Friday, February 27, 2009
P.S.
Because I am learning finanacial literacy I want to shaare it with you. We are made to be the lender and not the borrower. I know you have heard this from the bible and it still true today. How can we provide financial support to the kingdom of God if we owe everybody. Stop today buying things with credit. Follow this simple rule, if you can't afford it (that mean pay cash for it right then and there) don't buy it. Jesus didn't keep up with the Jones so why are you?
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 58 (KJV):
Proverbs 10:2-3:(KJV): "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs gives us much wisdom in many areas. These verses tell us the riches that belong to the wicked will not help them in the day of death. Every man must face death, and there is only one way that anyone will escape the punishment in hell that waits on the other side of death. The way of escape is through Jesus. Jesus died for our sins on the cross; He took our sins and the punishment that we deserve. If we repent, and accept Him as our savior, we will not go to hell, but rather, we will go to heaven to be with Him. God's original plan for man did not include hell. The Bible tells us that hell was created for the devil and his evil fallen angels. Men are going there because they are deceived into following the devil's ways.
Matthew 25:41: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
When we accept the Lord Jesus as our Lord, death holds no fear for us, as Jesus conquered the enemies of death and hell on the cross. When a Christian dies they go to heaven, as they have received their righteousness from the Lord. The Bible tells us that no man can attain righteousness, outside of receiving the righteousness of Christ. We are all born into sin. This is a sin cursed world, and the only redemption for any of us is found in Christ. Even our best deeds spring from wrong motives without the Lord in our hearts.
Romans 3:10-12: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
However, the good news is that we do not have to remain in sin. If we come to God and ask Him to forgive us, and give us the strength to forsake our sins, He will. We must ask Him into our hearts and allow Him to live His life through us, then we have His righteousness. When we have His righteousness, we can walk free from sin and live an overcoming life in this earth. As His children, we have been given many promises. We no longer have to walk in fear, doubt, sickness, poverty and any of the other things that the devil tries to put on us. We have been given the victory over the devil and his evil attacks. As we stand and pray the Lord tells us the devil has to flee from us.
James 4:7: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Proverbs 10:3 tells us that His righteous people will never be famished in their souls, for He will feed us every day if we come to Him and ask Him to meet our needs. Whatever we need this day, He promises to provide for us. He gives the weary -- strength, the fearful -- courage, the sick -- healing, the angry -- peace, the wounded -- comfort, the hungry -- food, the troubled -- guidance. The list could go on and on. He will meet every need we have, when we come to him with a humble heart. Money cannot buy the things that God gives His children. He freely gives us His love, joy, and peace that the world knows nothing about. All the substance and material things that they work so hard for will not help them in their day of trouble. Every man comes to the end of himself at some point. Sometimes that point is death and in that place all their riches cannot help them. Riches do not follow them to the grave.
Many people are losing their worldly riches today because they are not serving God. This verse tells us that God casts away the substance of the wicked. However, sometimes through loss, people will turn to God. The Lord does not want us to come this way. He simply wants us to surrender to His will. When we do this, our riches mean nothing to us, in comparison to the riches we find in Christ. Truly He is the "Pearl of Great Price."
Matthew 13:45-46: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,?You truly are the "Pearl of Great Price." I am so glad that I found You.? There is nothing in this world that compares to Your beauty!? Lord, even the times in my life that have been the most difficult, I have never doubted Your love for me, as You have always been there.? I have not always understood certain things that have happened, but I really do not have to understand everything.? I trust that You know what is best for me, and I know as I yield to You, You will show me how to overcome all the troubling things that confront me. Show me how to overcome the attacks of the enemy.? Thank you that You deliver Your righteous people.? Bless and strengthen Your people every where. ? In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Proverbs 10:2-3:(KJV): "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs gives us much wisdom in many areas. These verses tell us the riches that belong to the wicked will not help them in the day of death. Every man must face death, and there is only one way that anyone will escape the punishment in hell that waits on the other side of death. The way of escape is through Jesus. Jesus died for our sins on the cross; He took our sins and the punishment that we deserve. If we repent, and accept Him as our savior, we will not go to hell, but rather, we will go to heaven to be with Him. God's original plan for man did not include hell. The Bible tells us that hell was created for the devil and his evil fallen angels. Men are going there because they are deceived into following the devil's ways.
Matthew 25:41: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
When we accept the Lord Jesus as our Lord, death holds no fear for us, as Jesus conquered the enemies of death and hell on the cross. When a Christian dies they go to heaven, as they have received their righteousness from the Lord. The Bible tells us that no man can attain righteousness, outside of receiving the righteousness of Christ. We are all born into sin. This is a sin cursed world, and the only redemption for any of us is found in Christ. Even our best deeds spring from wrong motives without the Lord in our hearts.
Romans 3:10-12: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
However, the good news is that we do not have to remain in sin. If we come to God and ask Him to forgive us, and give us the strength to forsake our sins, He will. We must ask Him into our hearts and allow Him to live His life through us, then we have His righteousness. When we have His righteousness, we can walk free from sin and live an overcoming life in this earth. As His children, we have been given many promises. We no longer have to walk in fear, doubt, sickness, poverty and any of the other things that the devil tries to put on us. We have been given the victory over the devil and his evil attacks. As we stand and pray the Lord tells us the devil has to flee from us.
James 4:7: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Proverbs 10:3 tells us that His righteous people will never be famished in their souls, for He will feed us every day if we come to Him and ask Him to meet our needs. Whatever we need this day, He promises to provide for us. He gives the weary -- strength, the fearful -- courage, the sick -- healing, the angry -- peace, the wounded -- comfort, the hungry -- food, the troubled -- guidance. The list could go on and on. He will meet every need we have, when we come to him with a humble heart. Money cannot buy the things that God gives His children. He freely gives us His love, joy, and peace that the world knows nothing about. All the substance and material things that they work so hard for will not help them in their day of trouble. Every man comes to the end of himself at some point. Sometimes that point is death and in that place all their riches cannot help them. Riches do not follow them to the grave.
Many people are losing their worldly riches today because they are not serving God. This verse tells us that God casts away the substance of the wicked. However, sometimes through loss, people will turn to God. The Lord does not want us to come this way. He simply wants us to surrender to His will. When we do this, our riches mean nothing to us, in comparison to the riches we find in Christ. Truly He is the "Pearl of Great Price."
Matthew 13:45-46: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,?You truly are the "Pearl of Great Price." I am so glad that I found You.? There is nothing in this world that compares to Your beauty!? Lord, even the times in my life that have been the most difficult, I have never doubted Your love for me, as You have always been there.? I have not always understood certain things that have happened, but I really do not have to understand everything.? I trust that You know what is best for me, and I know as I yield to You, You will show me how to overcome all the troubling things that confront me. Show me how to overcome the attacks of the enemy.? Thank you that You deliver Your righteous people.? Bless and strengthen Your people every where. ? In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
P.S.
God is your comforter, healer, friend, lover and savior. He is everything only if you allow him to be. So if you are not feelign joy, peace, loved ask God to come in right now and be that for you. Once you trust him 100% you will look at life so much differently, you will actually enjoy every minute of it.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 56 (KJV):
Proverbs 9:13-18:(KJV): "A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in the book of Proverbs describe the ways of a prostitute, with a warning of the deadly fate that awaits those who embrace her. The description of the whore in verse 13 is one of a foolish woman who is noisy and open to all forms of evil. She is willfully reckless and knows nothing of eternal values. Verses 14 and 15 describe her at the door of her house inviting the upright men to come in. She even finds her way to the "high places" or places of influence in the city, tempting those men to join her in "stolen waters" and "the eating of bread in secret." This is simply a description of forbidden sexual pleasures that are done in secret. Those that lack understanding and are easily led astray by their lust, will turn into her house (verse 16). Men who go there, will join the past transgressors that embrace death, and the whore's ways. Ultimately they all will end up in hell unless they repent and turn to God (verse 18).
The deeds of wicked women are recorded in the Bible so that we might observe their lives and learn the consequences of sin. One of the most wicked women in the whole Bible was the woman known as Jezebel. Her complete story is told in chapters 16, 18, 19 & 21 of 1 Kings and chapter 9 of 2 Kings. Jezebel was a strong woman in intellect and will. The scripture does not mention that she had any of the finer, nobler feminine qualities. She was savage and relentless. This proud and strong minded female carried out her foul schemes unmercifully. Her evil plans included murder of an innocent man, to seize his property because her husband, Ahab desired it for his own. She was a gifted woman, yet she prostituted all her gifts for the furtherance of evil and her
misdirected talents became a curse. Persuasive, her influence was wrongly directed. Resolute above other women, she used her strength to destroy a king and her own offspring, as well as pollute the life of a nation. Jezebel was an ardent idolater, who also practiced witchcraft, as she sought to convert Israel to Baal worship. Her own life ended in a horrible tragic death as she reaped what she had sown.
Perhaps one of Jezebel's worst traits was that she was a dominating and controlling wife. Ahab was like a puppet in the hands of his overpowering wife. Spineless Ahab did not resist the evil scheming of his ruthless wife. In this marriage, Ahab was the weaker vessel, with a wife who mocked at what conscientious scruples he did possess. It could have been that Ahab was more luxury-loving and sensual than cruel, but under the complete domination of a ruthless woman, he was forced to act against his finer feelings. Today, many women are falling under this same "Jezebel Spirit" as they want to rule their households and husbands. They are determined to have their own way and are not submitted to the Lord. True submission involves both husband and wife submitting to the Lord; then, they are able to submit one to another in love. Men can act like "Jezebels" too if they have a domineering attitude over their wives. Women like Jezebel, who have led their husbands astray, are still doing it today.
However, women who move in faith and obedience to God can be responsible for influencing their husbands in the things of God. As this kind of woman prays and reaches out in love, the whole atmosphere of the home can change. It would be quite a revelation to take inventory of how many men came to know the Lord Jesus as a result of the faith of some woman. I have heard of thousands of testimonies of men who were saved as a direct result of a praying mother, wife or girlfriend. Jezebel may have led her man astray, but God has used many women to bring their men back to Him. Allegiance and submission to the Lord bring miracles of deliverance to entire families.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? Thank you for Your love for me today.? I am blessed with a wonderful godly husband and I am most grateful.? Lord, I pray for those today who are having problems in their marriages. ? Lord, help them to yield their own desires to You and seek first to please You. ? Give them grace to love with Your love.? You love us even when we are unlovely.? Help us all to love one another with the love of God.? Let our love be like Yours.? Give us the kind of love that allows us to forgive all past hurts and wounds. Your kind of love is patient and kind, and endures all things. Give us the grace to stand up against all dominating and controlling spirits by speaking the truth in love. ? Fill us with Your Spirit today so that we can overcome evil with good.? I ask this in Your name, Amen.
Proverbs 9:13-18:(KJV): "A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in the book of Proverbs describe the ways of a prostitute, with a warning of the deadly fate that awaits those who embrace her. The description of the whore in verse 13 is one of a foolish woman who is noisy and open to all forms of evil. She is willfully reckless and knows nothing of eternal values. Verses 14 and 15 describe her at the door of her house inviting the upright men to come in. She even finds her way to the "high places" or places of influence in the city, tempting those men to join her in "stolen waters" and "the eating of bread in secret." This is simply a description of forbidden sexual pleasures that are done in secret. Those that lack understanding and are easily led astray by their lust, will turn into her house (verse 16). Men who go there, will join the past transgressors that embrace death, and the whore's ways. Ultimately they all will end up in hell unless they repent and turn to God (verse 18).
The deeds of wicked women are recorded in the Bible so that we might observe their lives and learn the consequences of sin. One of the most wicked women in the whole Bible was the woman known as Jezebel. Her complete story is told in chapters 16, 18, 19 & 21 of 1 Kings and chapter 9 of 2 Kings. Jezebel was a strong woman in intellect and will. The scripture does not mention that she had any of the finer, nobler feminine qualities. She was savage and relentless. This proud and strong minded female carried out her foul schemes unmercifully. Her evil plans included murder of an innocent man, to seize his property because her husband, Ahab desired it for his own. She was a gifted woman, yet she prostituted all her gifts for the furtherance of evil and her
misdirected talents became a curse. Persuasive, her influence was wrongly directed. Resolute above other women, she used her strength to destroy a king and her own offspring, as well as pollute the life of a nation. Jezebel was an ardent idolater, who also practiced witchcraft, as she sought to convert Israel to Baal worship. Her own life ended in a horrible tragic death as she reaped what she had sown.
Perhaps one of Jezebel's worst traits was that she was a dominating and controlling wife. Ahab was like a puppet in the hands of his overpowering wife. Spineless Ahab did not resist the evil scheming of his ruthless wife. In this marriage, Ahab was the weaker vessel, with a wife who mocked at what conscientious scruples he did possess. It could have been that Ahab was more luxury-loving and sensual than cruel, but under the complete domination of a ruthless woman, he was forced to act against his finer feelings. Today, many women are falling under this same "Jezebel Spirit" as they want to rule their households and husbands. They are determined to have their own way and are not submitted to the Lord. True submission involves both husband and wife submitting to the Lord; then, they are able to submit one to another in love. Men can act like "Jezebels" too if they have a domineering attitude over their wives. Women like Jezebel, who have led their husbands astray, are still doing it today.
However, women who move in faith and obedience to God can be responsible for influencing their husbands in the things of God. As this kind of woman prays and reaches out in love, the whole atmosphere of the home can change. It would be quite a revelation to take inventory of how many men came to know the Lord Jesus as a result of the faith of some woman. I have heard of thousands of testimonies of men who were saved as a direct result of a praying mother, wife or girlfriend. Jezebel may have led her man astray, but God has used many women to bring their men back to Him. Allegiance and submission to the Lord bring miracles of deliverance to entire families.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? Thank you for Your love for me today.? I am blessed with a wonderful godly husband and I am most grateful.? Lord, I pray for those today who are having problems in their marriages. ? Lord, help them to yield their own desires to You and seek first to please You. ? Give them grace to love with Your love.? You love us even when we are unlovely.? Help us all to love one another with the love of God.? Let our love be like Yours.? Give us the kind of love that allows us to forgive all past hurts and wounds. Your kind of love is patient and kind, and endures all things. Give us the grace to stand up against all dominating and controlling spirits by speaking the truth in love. ? Fill us with Your Spirit today so that we can overcome evil with good.? I ask this in Your name, Amen.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
P.S.
Please fight for what you want. If it marriage, dreams, children. Fight to the end. Let God lead you all the way. Move out of the way. Jesus died for your success for you to be righteous. Please realize God has the power and strength not you.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 55 (KJV):
Proverbs 9:10-12:(KJV): "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs tells us the first step in getting wisdom is to have a reverent and respectful fear of God. Verse 10 says all true wisdom comes from God. If we are to understand life and why man was placed on this earth, we must first know the God who created it all. Knowing God results in the understanding of everything else. "The knowledge of the holy" is found in understanding the Bible. This understanding is imparted to us when we surrender our lives to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our savior, we are born again and given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Our understanding grows as we continue to study the Bible and obey the commands of Jesus.
When we apply the Words of the Bible to our lives and walk in the wisdom of God, we are promised certain blessings. Verse 11 states two of those blessings. When we follow the Lord, "our days shall be multiplied" or in other words, our days will be more profitable. It is amazing what we can do in one day, when we give our day to the Lord. We are able to accomplish things that would be impossible without the Lord's help and strength. Our priorities will be focused on the things of God, therefore each day will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
The other blessing is that the years of our lives shall be fruitful. Many older people look back over their lives in remorse, as they regretfully feel their lives have been wasted and they have nothing to show for it They do not have anything to leave behind as a memorial for their contribution to the world nor do they have many heavenly rewards to look forward to. If we are wise and follow the Lord, we will not find ourselves in that state. If we serve the Lord in this earth, when it is time to meet Him at the end of our lives, we can look forward to the Master greeting us with these words:
Matthew 25:23: "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Verse 12 tells us that wisdom has its own reward, and if we scorn her, we will only hurt ourselves. God created us with a free will and He will not force us to make the right decisions. What we do with our lives is our own decision. If we ignore God and His wisdom, we will suffer the consequences, because we reap what we sow. However, on the positive side, if we yield to the will of God, and ask for His help to lead a righteous life that is full of wisdom, He will grant our request, if we totally commit to Him. When we follow and obey God, we will also be blessed and receive the promises that are given to us in the Holy Bible.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? Our greatest wealth is having Your blessings. You give us so many things that the world does not have. As Your children, we are promised peace in the storm, provision when we have nothing, love for those who persecute us, joy in the face of grief, forgiveness for our sins and so many more promises.? Today, I am grateful for all of Your blessings.? Help me to be a blessing to those around me.? Give me Your compassion for those who persecute me. ? Lord, help me remain strong in the faith for all things I am believing you for; especially remember our family members who have strayed away from You.? Forgive them and draw them back to Your side with Your cords of love.? Thank you for saving me and healing me.? Remember those that I daily keep on my prayer list and meet their needs this day.? I ask this in the name of Jesus.? Amen.
Proverbs 9:10-12:(KJV): "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs tells us the first step in getting wisdom is to have a reverent and respectful fear of God. Verse 10 says all true wisdom comes from God. If we are to understand life and why man was placed on this earth, we must first know the God who created it all. Knowing God results in the understanding of everything else. "The knowledge of the holy" is found in understanding the Bible. This understanding is imparted to us when we surrender our lives to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our savior, we are born again and given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Our understanding grows as we continue to study the Bible and obey the commands of Jesus.
When we apply the Words of the Bible to our lives and walk in the wisdom of God, we are promised certain blessings. Verse 11 states two of those blessings. When we follow the Lord, "our days shall be multiplied" or in other words, our days will be more profitable. It is amazing what we can do in one day, when we give our day to the Lord. We are able to accomplish things that would be impossible without the Lord's help and strength. Our priorities will be focused on the things of God, therefore each day will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
The other blessing is that the years of our lives shall be fruitful. Many older people look back over their lives in remorse, as they regretfully feel their lives have been wasted and they have nothing to show for it They do not have anything to leave behind as a memorial for their contribution to the world nor do they have many heavenly rewards to look forward to. If we are wise and follow the Lord, we will not find ourselves in that state. If we serve the Lord in this earth, when it is time to meet Him at the end of our lives, we can look forward to the Master greeting us with these words:
Matthew 25:23: "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Verse 12 tells us that wisdom has its own reward, and if we scorn her, we will only hurt ourselves. God created us with a free will and He will not force us to make the right decisions. What we do with our lives is our own decision. If we ignore God and His wisdom, we will suffer the consequences, because we reap what we sow. However, on the positive side, if we yield to the will of God, and ask for His help to lead a righteous life that is full of wisdom, He will grant our request, if we totally commit to Him. When we follow and obey God, we will also be blessed and receive the promises that are given to us in the Holy Bible.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? Our greatest wealth is having Your blessings. You give us so many things that the world does not have. As Your children, we are promised peace in the storm, provision when we have nothing, love for those who persecute us, joy in the face of grief, forgiveness for our sins and so many more promises.? Today, I am grateful for all of Your blessings.? Help me to be a blessing to those around me.? Give me Your compassion for those who persecute me. ? Lord, help me remain strong in the faith for all things I am believing you for; especially remember our family members who have strayed away from You.? Forgive them and draw them back to Your side with Your cords of love.? Thank you for saving me and healing me.? Remember those that I daily keep on my prayer list and meet their needs this day.? I ask this in the name of Jesus.? Amen.
Monday, February 23, 2009
P.S.
When you feel lost or confused you should spend time with God. I am not saying just talk to him. I mean cut off the rest of the world and have some real intimate time with him. Don't answer a phone, shut off the tv, disappear in a room and watch how you receive clarity. Watch joy and peace emerge.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 54 (KJV):
Proverbs 9:6-9:(KJV): "Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs gives us instruction on how to relate to scorners and foolish people. The Hebrew meaning of the word "foolish" in the dictionary means one who lacks moral reason, righteousness and justice. He is, in essence, someone who rebels against the things of God. Because the foolish are rebels, the Lord tells us to forsake them, and follow God in the way of understanding.
Verse 7 also tells us that if you try to reprove or correct someone who is scornful, they will only turn on you, and abuse you as well. This is also true, if you try to rebuke and tell a wicked man that he is wrong. The reason this is true is because wicked people are very prideful people, and they do not want anyone telling them what to do. They have no humility and are unteachable. They will try to make the one who is telling them the truth, look bad. They will try to bring a blot against the one who is trying to bring correction to them.
Verse 8 tells us that if you reprove a scorner, that he will hate you. Scorners are mockers, scoffers and impudent people. They will not only, not accept your advice, they will usually hurl a deluge of hateful words against you also. They are not ready to repent, so the best way to deal with foolish people and scorners is to just pray for them, until the Lord softens their hearts, so that they can hear you. We need the discernment of the Lord to know when it is wise to share the truth in love with someone, and when it is best just to keep our mouth shut and pray for them. Only God knows when a person is ready to hear. This is something we need to remember in witnessing to people also. The Bible likens seed to the Word of God and someone's heart as the soil that it is planted in. Sometime the words that we share, will "plow the ground," of the heart, while at other times, we plant seed. Someone else may come along and water what we have spoken, and then the Lord will send someone else, to reap the harvest when it is ready.
Luke 8:11-15: "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
Proverbs 9:9 tells us that when you correct a wise man he will not only receive it, but will be glad that you helped him avoid a problem. A wise man is happy to receive a course correction and will love you for helping him see the light. He is the kind who learns from his mistakes when they are pointed out to him. He doesn't allow his pride to keep him from receiving correction. He appreciates the fact that he has gained new understanding, because he has a teachable spirit. This kind of man or woman grows in God and becomes wiser and wiser.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? Thank you for giving me the Bible, so that I can learn and grow in wisdom, by studying Your Words.? I do appreciate it when You correct me.? Thank You for giving me a teachable spirit. Lord, also give me discernment as to when I need to open my mouth and speak the truth to someone, and when I need to be silent and just pray.? Lord, give me the holy boldness, to speak up when You tell me someone needs a Word or a prayer.? I do want to let my light shine so that others might know that You are real, and that You are a loving God.?? I give you my life afresh today, strengthen me to be what You want me to be.? I ask this in Your son Jesus' name.? Amen.
Proverbs 9:6-9:(KJV): "Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs gives us instruction on how to relate to scorners and foolish people. The Hebrew meaning of the word "foolish" in the dictionary means one who lacks moral reason, righteousness and justice. He is, in essence, someone who rebels against the things of God. Because the foolish are rebels, the Lord tells us to forsake them, and follow God in the way of understanding.
Verse 7 also tells us that if you try to reprove or correct someone who is scornful, they will only turn on you, and abuse you as well. This is also true, if you try to rebuke and tell a wicked man that he is wrong. The reason this is true is because wicked people are very prideful people, and they do not want anyone telling them what to do. They have no humility and are unteachable. They will try to make the one who is telling them the truth, look bad. They will try to bring a blot against the one who is trying to bring correction to them.
Verse 8 tells us that if you reprove a scorner, that he will hate you. Scorners are mockers, scoffers and impudent people. They will not only, not accept your advice, they will usually hurl a deluge of hateful words against you also. They are not ready to repent, so the best way to deal with foolish people and scorners is to just pray for them, until the Lord softens their hearts, so that they can hear you. We need the discernment of the Lord to know when it is wise to share the truth in love with someone, and when it is best just to keep our mouth shut and pray for them. Only God knows when a person is ready to hear. This is something we need to remember in witnessing to people also. The Bible likens seed to the Word of God and someone's heart as the soil that it is planted in. Sometime the words that we share, will "plow the ground," of the heart, while at other times, we plant seed. Someone else may come along and water what we have spoken, and then the Lord will send someone else, to reap the harvest when it is ready.
Luke 8:11-15: "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
Proverbs 9:9 tells us that when you correct a wise man he will not only receive it, but will be glad that you helped him avoid a problem. A wise man is happy to receive a course correction and will love you for helping him see the light. He is the kind who learns from his mistakes when they are pointed out to him. He doesn't allow his pride to keep him from receiving correction. He appreciates the fact that he has gained new understanding, because he has a teachable spirit. This kind of man or woman grows in God and becomes wiser and wiser.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? Thank you for giving me the Bible, so that I can learn and grow in wisdom, by studying Your Words.? I do appreciate it when You correct me.? Thank You for giving me a teachable spirit. Lord, also give me discernment as to when I need to open my mouth and speak the truth to someone, and when I need to be silent and just pray.? Lord, give me the holy boldness, to speak up when You tell me someone needs a Word or a prayer.? I do want to let my light shine so that others might know that You are real, and that You are a loving God.?? I give you my life afresh today, strengthen me to be what You want me to be.? I ask this in Your son Jesus' name.? Amen.
Friday, February 20, 2009
P.S.
Well today I want to encourage you to do something nice for a total stranger. Help them shovel there snow. Help them put there grocery in their car. Buy someone you don't know a cup of coffee. Do this expecting nothing in return. This is what Jesus did for you. This will help us love one another and it might help a total stranger remember God is in their life. Will you take on this challenge.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 51 (KJV):
Proverbs 8:22-32:(KJV): "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs continues with a poetic description of God's Wisdom and its role in the creation of the world. In verses 22 and 23 the Bible makes the statement that the Lord possessed Wisdom. Wisdom existed even before the earth did; thus Wisdom is eternal and was there in the beginning. We know by this statement, that the Bible is saying that Wisdom is more than a wise method of doing things, but rather, Wisdom is actually the person of God Himself. Just as the scripture refers to God as Love, here, God is referred to as Wisdom. When we are instructed to follow the ways of Wisdom, we are being instructed to follow the ways of God.
This portion of scripture is also a beautiful description of the creation of the world and is in perfect harmony with the account in Genesis 1.
Genesis 1:1-10: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."
It is a very sad thing today, that many in the scientific community, have tried to do away with the Biblical creation of the earth; many, with theories that are harder to believe than the Bible account itself. However, many of these theories are being proved false as new discoveries are made, and new evidence is being brought to light that gives credence that the Bible is true in its record of how the earth was created. It is foolish to believe that the earth just happened or that it evolved from some "blob" and that a "Big Bang" just happened, and out of one of those things, there suddenly came order, and the human race was born. The universe did not create itself. There was not just a chance encounter with a passing star that caused our solar system to be set in perfect order, with the rotation of the planets in their exact orbits, so that they do not collide with each other.
The earth itself is positioned at just the right distance from the sun, so that is not too close to burn up, nor too far away so that it would freeze. You need not worry about the earth getting too hot from global warming, nor the opposite theory that it will enter an ice age. The scripture contradicts this occurrence. Genesis 8:22: "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."Just looking at creation itself, is evidence of a designer behind it. This Master Designer was God. Wisdom was there when He created the solar system, the earth that contains mountains, oceans, lakes, forests and fields. God even set the boundaries of the oceans; they are there by His command, as it says in Proverbs 8:29 and also in Job 38:11: "And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed."
According to Proverbs 8:3, the most delightful thing God created was man. After God added the animals, He then made the height of His creation -- man in His own image. God desired to have someone He could fellowship with, so He started with Adam and Eve and has continued His creation of man with each birth through the ages. He made you and me. It delights His heart to commune with each of His children daily.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father, I am blessed today to be one of your children.? I appreciate Your handiwork in all that You have created.? I stand in awe that You made it all for mankind so that they might enjoy it and be blessed in it.? Thank you for the beauty of the mountains, the glorious sunsets and the blue skies with those patches of little white clouds on a nice day. Thank you that I have eyes to see all of Your great artistic work in the creation of the earth. Lord, forgive me when I am tempted to complain about anything.? I really have nothing to complain about when I have the Creator of the whole universe as my Father and friend.? May I be a good friend to You and serve You faithfully every day of my life.? Use me today to bless and help others.? I ask this in Your Son's name. Amen.
Proverbs 8:22-32:(KJV): "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs continues with a poetic description of God's Wisdom and its role in the creation of the world. In verses 22 and 23 the Bible makes the statement that the Lord possessed Wisdom. Wisdom existed even before the earth did; thus Wisdom is eternal and was there in the beginning. We know by this statement, that the Bible is saying that Wisdom is more than a wise method of doing things, but rather, Wisdom is actually the person of God Himself. Just as the scripture refers to God as Love, here, God is referred to as Wisdom. When we are instructed to follow the ways of Wisdom, we are being instructed to follow the ways of God.
This portion of scripture is also a beautiful description of the creation of the world and is in perfect harmony with the account in Genesis 1.
Genesis 1:1-10: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."
It is a very sad thing today, that many in the scientific community, have tried to do away with the Biblical creation of the earth; many, with theories that are harder to believe than the Bible account itself. However, many of these theories are being proved false as new discoveries are made, and new evidence is being brought to light that gives credence that the Bible is true in its record of how the earth was created. It is foolish to believe that the earth just happened or that it evolved from some "blob" and that a "Big Bang" just happened, and out of one of those things, there suddenly came order, and the human race was born. The universe did not create itself. There was not just a chance encounter with a passing star that caused our solar system to be set in perfect order, with the rotation of the planets in their exact orbits, so that they do not collide with each other.
The earth itself is positioned at just the right distance from the sun, so that is not too close to burn up, nor too far away so that it would freeze. You need not worry about the earth getting too hot from global warming, nor the opposite theory that it will enter an ice age. The scripture contradicts this occurrence. Genesis 8:22: "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."Just looking at creation itself, is evidence of a designer behind it. This Master Designer was God. Wisdom was there when He created the solar system, the earth that contains mountains, oceans, lakes, forests and fields. God even set the boundaries of the oceans; they are there by His command, as it says in Proverbs 8:29 and also in Job 38:11: "And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed."
According to Proverbs 8:3, the most delightful thing God created was man. After God added the animals, He then made the height of His creation -- man in His own image. God desired to have someone He could fellowship with, so He started with Adam and Eve and has continued His creation of man with each birth through the ages. He made you and me. It delights His heart to commune with each of His children daily.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father, I am blessed today to be one of your children.? I appreciate Your handiwork in all that You have created.? I stand in awe that You made it all for mankind so that they might enjoy it and be blessed in it.? Thank you for the beauty of the mountains, the glorious sunsets and the blue skies with those patches of little white clouds on a nice day. Thank you that I have eyes to see all of Your great artistic work in the creation of the earth. Lord, forgive me when I am tempted to complain about anything.? I really have nothing to complain about when I have the Creator of the whole universe as my Father and friend.? May I be a good friend to You and serve You faithfully every day of my life.? Use me today to bless and help others.? I ask this in Your Son's name. Amen.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
P.S.
If presents to you an opportunity don't be afraid to take it. Step through the door of your dreams. Now on one said the journey to success would be easy but it will definitely be worth it. For God to complete his mission we must complete our task. What task/opportunity are you deciding on today? Do wait any longer, step out on faith and do it.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 50 (KJV):
Proverbs 8:18-21:(KJV): "Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs continues to talk about how the possessor of God's wisdom will not only receive honor, but will also be blessed materially. Portions of the church today are divided on the issue of God's people expecting God to bless them in a material way. However, the Bible is very clear that poverty does not come from God, as He is a God of abundance. God has never been against His people receiving riches. What He is against are the things that many people embrace along with the world's wealth, these things being greed, materialism, lust, and the heaping up of riches for selfish indulgence.
Notice in the first verse above, in the list of things that wisdom will bring, is not only durable goods, but also righteousness. The wealth that comes from God will produce righteousness with it. Men who God honors with wealth, will also be those who seek God as to how He wants their accumulation of gold and silver spent. Godly men will be looking for ways to bless others, and they will give to workers and ministers who are getting the gospel out. They will not be concentrating on what new thing they can purchase that will bring them pleasure. They will be satisfied with a modest lifestyle and not seek one of hedonistic extravagance.
The man whom God shall make rich, will be a different kind of person than a rich man in the world. His trust will not be in His riches, but in His God. He is the kind who continually listens to the Holy Spirit as to where the Lord wants his money to go. He will not consider his wealth as a treasure of his own, but will acknowledge God's ownership over not only his pocket book, but also that God owns his very life. He will be ready to give it all away, and follow His Master, should the Lord ask him to do so. This kind of rich man is not troubled about losing his money, as he knows he is only a steward over it to begin with, and without God he would own nothing anyway. He understands where his wealth comes from, and that it could quickly leave, if he turns away from God.
Deuteronomy 8:18: "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish."
God desires to bless His people and because He is generous and a giving Father. He wants us, as His children, to have the same kind of heart. How much should we give? The Lord tells us we should keep some money for seed for bread, but that we should also give some of our seed back to Him for the work of the gospel. In the Bible, we find that he required His people to give a tithe (10%) of all their increase. That is a good starting place; however, the truly wealthy man will desire to give God more and more, as he is entrusted with increase. One testimony I read of a very wealthy man whom God blessed and used to give huge sums of money into to the work of the kingdom, reversed God's requirement and gave 90% to God and lived on 10%.
Some of us may be struggling today to just make a living, but we can get out of financial bondage, by following the wisdom of the Bible in the area of finances. The Bible has much to say about finances and giving. When we give of what we have -- time, faith, prayers, and our money, God has a way of multiplying it back to us, meeting our needs, and giving us more, so we can give again. As we help one another, and go about doing good as Jesus did, we will find our treasures being filled. As God's children, we will receive our inheritance, and it is not only the material things we need, but also the treasures of heaven that money can not buy. Only Jesus can give us faith, peace, love, joy, health and eternal life.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father in Heaven, How grateful I am for all you have given me.? Lord, I have never lacked.? Yes, I have waited before certain things have arrived that I have prayed for. They did not come in my time, but Yours.? I trust You, Lord, that You truly have made us wealthy. I have a home, an automobile, clothes, and those wonderful appliances that wash and dry our clothes and do my dishes.? This gives me more time to seek You and reach out to others.? Thank you for these material blessings, Lord.? I am also grateful for all the wonderful friends you have given me and my husband.? Thank you for the people who pray for us and help us get the gospel out.? Most of all, I am thankful for You and Your love and that my name is written in the Book of Life. I pray in the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.
Proverbs 8:18-21:(KJV): "Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs continues to talk about how the possessor of God's wisdom will not only receive honor, but will also be blessed materially. Portions of the church today are divided on the issue of God's people expecting God to bless them in a material way. However, the Bible is very clear that poverty does not come from God, as He is a God of abundance. God has never been against His people receiving riches. What He is against are the things that many people embrace along with the world's wealth, these things being greed, materialism, lust, and the heaping up of riches for selfish indulgence.
Notice in the first verse above, in the list of things that wisdom will bring, is not only durable goods, but also righteousness. The wealth that comes from God will produce righteousness with it. Men who God honors with wealth, will also be those who seek God as to how He wants their accumulation of gold and silver spent. Godly men will be looking for ways to bless others, and they will give to workers and ministers who are getting the gospel out. They will not be concentrating on what new thing they can purchase that will bring them pleasure. They will be satisfied with a modest lifestyle and not seek one of hedonistic extravagance.
The man whom God shall make rich, will be a different kind of person than a rich man in the world. His trust will not be in His riches, but in His God. He is the kind who continually listens to the Holy Spirit as to where the Lord wants his money to go. He will not consider his wealth as a treasure of his own, but will acknowledge God's ownership over not only his pocket book, but also that God owns his very life. He will be ready to give it all away, and follow His Master, should the Lord ask him to do so. This kind of rich man is not troubled about losing his money, as he knows he is only a steward over it to begin with, and without God he would own nothing anyway. He understands where his wealth comes from, and that it could quickly leave, if he turns away from God.
Deuteronomy 8:18: "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish."
God desires to bless His people and because He is generous and a giving Father. He wants us, as His children, to have the same kind of heart. How much should we give? The Lord tells us we should keep some money for seed for bread, but that we should also give some of our seed back to Him for the work of the gospel. In the Bible, we find that he required His people to give a tithe (10%) of all their increase. That is a good starting place; however, the truly wealthy man will desire to give God more and more, as he is entrusted with increase. One testimony I read of a very wealthy man whom God blessed and used to give huge sums of money into to the work of the kingdom, reversed God's requirement and gave 90% to God and lived on 10%.
Some of us may be struggling today to just make a living, but we can get out of financial bondage, by following the wisdom of the Bible in the area of finances. The Bible has much to say about finances and giving. When we give of what we have -- time, faith, prayers, and our money, God has a way of multiplying it back to us, meeting our needs, and giving us more, so we can give again. As we help one another, and go about doing good as Jesus did, we will find our treasures being filled. As God's children, we will receive our inheritance, and it is not only the material things we need, but also the treasures of heaven that money can not buy. Only Jesus can give us faith, peace, love, joy, health and eternal life.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father in Heaven, How grateful I am for all you have given me.? Lord, I have never lacked.? Yes, I have waited before certain things have arrived that I have prayed for. They did not come in my time, but Yours.? I trust You, Lord, that You truly have made us wealthy. I have a home, an automobile, clothes, and those wonderful appliances that wash and dry our clothes and do my dishes.? This gives me more time to seek You and reach out to others.? Thank you for these material blessings, Lord.? I am also grateful for all the wonderful friends you have given me and my husband.? Thank you for the people who pray for us and help us get the gospel out.? Most of all, I am thankful for You and Your love and that my name is written in the Book of Life. I pray in the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
P.S.
If you know God gave you something to do and sometimes you don't feel like doing it, remember the purpose. God wants you to succeed. Ask him to give you strength and it will be provided. Sit down and have a talk with him and let him know exactly what you are feeling. With him you can work out all the feelings and watch joy emerge. Now you are ready to get back to the game plan.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 49 (KJV):
Proverbs 8:15-17:(KJV): "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."
Thoughts for the Day
Our study in the book of Proverbs continues with an emphasis on the value of having God's wisdom. These verses tell us that good rulers in the earth will rule justly, by using the sound wisdom that is recorded in the Bible. Any student of history knows that throughout the ages the most prosperous and blessed earthly kingdoms have been those that had a Christian influence coming from the leadership of those nations.
Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those who were practicing Christ's commands would began to reach out to help the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages and rescue missions were all founded by Christians in keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to demonstrate His love to a needy world. God has always been interested in helping the weak, the feeble and afflicted. Ungodly societies destroy their weak, helpless and burdensome members.
We are praying that the ungodly practice of abortion will cease in all nations that now legally allow and encourage it. This practice does not show the love of God toward babies or basic respect for human life. Rather, it is an unloving act that is adversely affecting all of society. The more we harden our hearts to the idea of protecting the sanctity of human life, the more susceptible we all become to violent crimes against humanity. Regardless of what those who believe in abortion rights claim, most abortions are not done to protect the mother's life or some other so-called valid reason, but rather to allow the parents to escape their responsibility of caring for the little life they had a part in creating. Most abortions are done out of pure selfishness. The mother and father simply did not want a child to interfere with their plans. The Bible teaches we are to overcome selfishness, not encourage it. We need to reverse the law in our land that allows abortions so freely, as the soul of our nation has accepted a practice that we will all regret. The consequences of murder is "a life for a life" and this will mean the loss of much life in any nation that practices abortion unless the people repent.
Numbers 35:33: "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."
In verse 17 of Proverbs 8, the Lord says, that He will love those that love Him. How do we show love for God? We show it by loving one another and keeping His commandments. If we desire to have His favor and love, then we must seek Him "early" or to put it another way, we must seek Him early enough, before His patience and mercy runs out and we are faced with severe judgment on our nations. We must repent and turn back to God and obey His commandments.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? We do ask you to forgive the sin of murder, due to the abortions in our nation.? Lord, this sin of murder began with the sin of lust and selfishness. Deliver Your people from these sins. ? Help me Lord, to overcome my own selfishness, and be willing to lay down my wants for the sake of the kingdom of God.? Help me to think of others and their needs, and not concentrate so much on my own needs.? Thank you, that You are taking care of my needs, so that I can help and bless others.? Lord, I pray for the leaders of our nation.? Give them wisdom, protect them from harm, give them strength and health. ? Turn our nation back to the Christian principles that it was founded upon. Thank you, Lord for being merciful to all of us.? In Jesus' name I pray.? Amen.
Proverbs 8:15-17:(KJV): "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."
Thoughts for the Day
Our study in the book of Proverbs continues with an emphasis on the value of having God's wisdom. These verses tell us that good rulers in the earth will rule justly, by using the sound wisdom that is recorded in the Bible. Any student of history knows that throughout the ages the most prosperous and blessed earthly kingdoms have been those that had a Christian influence coming from the leadership of those nations.
Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those who were practicing Christ's commands would began to reach out to help the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages and rescue missions were all founded by Christians in keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to demonstrate His love to a needy world. God has always been interested in helping the weak, the feeble and afflicted. Ungodly societies destroy their weak, helpless and burdensome members.
We are praying that the ungodly practice of abortion will cease in all nations that now legally allow and encourage it. This practice does not show the love of God toward babies or basic respect for human life. Rather, it is an unloving act that is adversely affecting all of society. The more we harden our hearts to the idea of protecting the sanctity of human life, the more susceptible we all become to violent crimes against humanity. Regardless of what those who believe in abortion rights claim, most abortions are not done to protect the mother's life or some other so-called valid reason, but rather to allow the parents to escape their responsibility of caring for the little life they had a part in creating. Most abortions are done out of pure selfishness. The mother and father simply did not want a child to interfere with their plans. The Bible teaches we are to overcome selfishness, not encourage it. We need to reverse the law in our land that allows abortions so freely, as the soul of our nation has accepted a practice that we will all regret. The consequences of murder is "a life for a life" and this will mean the loss of much life in any nation that practices abortion unless the people repent.
Numbers 35:33: "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."
In verse 17 of Proverbs 8, the Lord says, that He will love those that love Him. How do we show love for God? We show it by loving one another and keeping His commandments. If we desire to have His favor and love, then we must seek Him "early" or to put it another way, we must seek Him early enough, before His patience and mercy runs out and we are faced with severe judgment on our nations. We must repent and turn back to God and obey His commandments.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father,? We do ask you to forgive the sin of murder, due to the abortions in our nation.? Lord, this sin of murder began with the sin of lust and selfishness. Deliver Your people from these sins. ? Help me Lord, to overcome my own selfishness, and be willing to lay down my wants for the sake of the kingdom of God.? Help me to think of others and their needs, and not concentrate so much on my own needs.? Thank you, that You are taking care of my needs, so that I can help and bless others.? Lord, I pray for the leaders of our nation.? Give them wisdom, protect them from harm, give them strength and health. ? Turn our nation back to the Christian principles that it was founded upon. Thank you, Lord for being merciful to all of us.? In Jesus' name I pray.? Amen.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
P.S.
Even in those days when you are not feeling great. You may feel alone. You may feel like you just don't want ot bother or maybe even upset, God is still with you. If you just turn on discernment God is asking you to do something in the midst of what you are going through. He might be asking you to pray for another or acknowledge him but he is asking you to just remain in his presence regardless.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 48 (KJV):
Proverbs 8:14(KJV): "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength."
Thoughts for the Day
Proverb's theme of God's wisdom runs throughout this book. These verses tell us that God's wisdom will give us sound counsel. Many people today are seeking their counsel in the wrong places and most of the time, the advice they are receiving is not based on God's Word, but rather, is usually telling people to be selfish and look after "number one." So many are going to fortune tellers, psychics, card readers, astrology books, etc. The Bible warns us that this type of counsel is not only wrong, but is opening one's spirit up to a form of witchcraft. When people are seeking advice from anyone who claims to have supernatural powers, (other than the true power of Christ and His prophets, and servants;) they are committing a sin, that the Lord calls an abomination.
Deuteronomy 18:9-15: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
These verses in Deuteronomy mention several very wicked things these nations were doing, because they did not know God. They were using divination, astrology (observering the times), and getting their advice or counsel from enchanters or witches and wizards. They were seeking the dead (necromancy) and having seances (consulting with familiar spirits). They were even offering their children to the god Molech to be burned (verse 10). Our civilized world today thinks how ghastly that was for people to murder their own children. However, our modern society does the same thing by committing abortion. Many nations of the world are killing their children before they are born. This is murder and is also an abomination in the sight of God.
God does not want us to seek counsel in the wrong places. He wants to direct us and give us His understanding. He declares that He is wisdom, understanding and strength. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy and in Verse 15 he tells us that we are to seek the true Prophet, Jesus. If God shows us something that we should do and we feel we could not possibly do it or face it, His promise to His children is to give them the strength to accomplish it. One of the greatest scriptures we can quote for strength is found in the New Testament:
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
We are also told that the way to overcome is not to rely on our own strength and wisdom, but to look to God for for His counsel and His advice and His strength to obey Him. He promises to give us the strength to resist and overcome the temptations that we face. We are told in Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." He did not tell me I had to be strong in my own strength, but rather, to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." I can rely on Him for all I need, He will give me His might. I can trust the Words of the Bible to be the right advice. I can trust that the Lord will enable me to keep it. In so doing I will walk in strength and victory!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that You have guided me this far, and I trust You to continue to show me the right path to take and the right things I should do.? I am asking for your wisdom and counsel in all that I do. ? You are all wise and I can trust Your advice in all of my affairs.? I need you, Lord, in every area of my life.? Lord, give me the strength I need daily, as I work and serve You.? I also ask that you touch my family and friends and all of my loved ones.? Lord, also touch each one who reads this prayer that they may feel Your love and strength in their life today.? Bless all of those that you have placed in my life.? I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Proverbs 8:14(KJV): "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength."
Thoughts for the Day
Proverb's theme of God's wisdom runs throughout this book. These verses tell us that God's wisdom will give us sound counsel. Many people today are seeking their counsel in the wrong places and most of the time, the advice they are receiving is not based on God's Word, but rather, is usually telling people to be selfish and look after "number one." So many are going to fortune tellers, psychics, card readers, astrology books, etc. The Bible warns us that this type of counsel is not only wrong, but is opening one's spirit up to a form of witchcraft. When people are seeking advice from anyone who claims to have supernatural powers, (other than the true power of Christ and His prophets, and servants;) they are committing a sin, that the Lord calls an abomination.
Deuteronomy 18:9-15: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
These verses in Deuteronomy mention several very wicked things these nations were doing, because they did not know God. They were using divination, astrology (observering the times), and getting their advice or counsel from enchanters or witches and wizards. They were seeking the dead (necromancy) and having seances (consulting with familiar spirits). They were even offering their children to the god Molech to be burned (verse 10). Our civilized world today thinks how ghastly that was for people to murder their own children. However, our modern society does the same thing by committing abortion. Many nations of the world are killing their children before they are born. This is murder and is also an abomination in the sight of God.
God does not want us to seek counsel in the wrong places. He wants to direct us and give us His understanding. He declares that He is wisdom, understanding and strength. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy and in Verse 15 he tells us that we are to seek the true Prophet, Jesus. If God shows us something that we should do and we feel we could not possibly do it or face it, His promise to His children is to give them the strength to accomplish it. One of the greatest scriptures we can quote for strength is found in the New Testament:
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
We are also told that the way to overcome is not to rely on our own strength and wisdom, but to look to God for for His counsel and His advice and His strength to obey Him. He promises to give us the strength to resist and overcome the temptations that we face. We are told in Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." He did not tell me I had to be strong in my own strength, but rather, to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." I can rely on Him for all I need, He will give me His might. I can trust the Words of the Bible to be the right advice. I can trust that the Lord will enable me to keep it. In so doing I will walk in strength and victory!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that You have guided me this far, and I trust You to continue to show me the right path to take and the right things I should do.? I am asking for your wisdom and counsel in all that I do. ? You are all wise and I can trust Your advice in all of my affairs.? I need you, Lord, in every area of my life.? Lord, give me the strength I need daily, as I work and serve You.? I also ask that you touch my family and friends and all of my loved ones.? Lord, also touch each one who reads this prayer that they may feel Your love and strength in their life today.? Bless all of those that you have placed in my life.? I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 47 (KJV):
Proverbs 8:13(KJV): "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
Thoughts for the Day
The Book of Proverbs gives us a good explanation of what the "fear of the Lord" is. Some people are confused when they read this verse in the Old Testament and then, in the New Testament they read this verse:
1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
To understand and reconcile these two verses, we must understand what it means to "fear the Lord." The Hebrew word used here in Proverbs has the meaning of "reverencing the Lord." It means to be reverent, with humility toward God, because we acknowledge His great power and authority. An example of this would be the same sort of reverence we should have toward our parents. We should respect what our parents say to us. If our father warns us of the danger of drinking or smoking, we will not go against what he tells us, if we respect his words. We will fear the consequences of what could happen to us should we become addicted to these drugs. This is a healthy fear that keeps us from harm. It is not a tormenting fear. If we have the fear or respect of God's Words, we will not go against them. Instead, we will apply His Words to our lives. We will stay away from the things that the Bible warns us are dangerous to our souls.
In the New Testament, we read that "perfect love casteth out fear." This means that if we really love God we will not disobey Him. Therefore, if we do not disobey the Word of God, we have nothing to fear. We would not want to do anything that God does not want us to do, if we love God and desire to please Him. This does not mean that we have to be perfect, as we all fail God at times. It does mean, that because of our love for God, we will strive to obey Him perfectly. If we do not have a good relationship with Jesus, we will not have the strength to resist sin and the devil will get by with tormenting us. If we do not bring our guilt to Jesus, we then will suffer torment. When we have accepted Jesus as our savior, though we may fail God and sin, the Lord has provided a way for us to be forgiven, cleansed from our sin, and restored into a right relationship with Him.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
According to this definition in Proverbs, the Bible definition of "the fear of the Lord" is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way and a froward (crooked or perverse) mouth. If we have the "fear of the Lord" we will not only hate these things, we will resist them, and ask the Lord to deliver us from being guilty of these sins. When we tolerate evil in our lives and speak evil things, we are declaring that we have no fear of God. In fact, we have fallen into the sin of pride and arrogance, because we think that God is simply overlooking our sin and our wrong attitudes, just because we may appear to get by with some things at the present. God is a merciful God and He gives all of us time to repent, so that our own sins do not produce the effects of the sowing and reaping process.
Galatians 6:7-8: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
If we have the "fear of the Lord," we will turn from our sin and seek the Lord to help us overcome any weakness or evil thing that the devil wants us to indulge in. We will believe what the Bible tells us, and desire to walk in the truth. The Holy Spirit is present to help us overcome anything that the devil tries to bring to tempt and destroy us.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father in Heaven, I am thankful for Your love and patience toward me, to help me overcome the things in my life that are not pleasing to You.? I realize that I cannot do this without the help of the Holy Spirit.? I am calling on You to empower me to be that overcomer and help me to come to the place that I love You so much, that I will never want to hurt You by going my own way. I humbly ask You to remove all pride and rebellion from my heart.? Cleanse me, and may I always have the "fear of the Lord" in my heart.? I ask this in Jesus' name.? Amen.
Proverbs 8:13(KJV): "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
Thoughts for the Day
The Book of Proverbs gives us a good explanation of what the "fear of the Lord" is. Some people are confused when they read this verse in the Old Testament and then, in the New Testament they read this verse:
1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
To understand and reconcile these two verses, we must understand what it means to "fear the Lord." The Hebrew word used here in Proverbs has the meaning of "reverencing the Lord." It means to be reverent, with humility toward God, because we acknowledge His great power and authority. An example of this would be the same sort of reverence we should have toward our parents. We should respect what our parents say to us. If our father warns us of the danger of drinking or smoking, we will not go against what he tells us, if we respect his words. We will fear the consequences of what could happen to us should we become addicted to these drugs. This is a healthy fear that keeps us from harm. It is not a tormenting fear. If we have the fear or respect of God's Words, we will not go against them. Instead, we will apply His Words to our lives. We will stay away from the things that the Bible warns us are dangerous to our souls.
In the New Testament, we read that "perfect love casteth out fear." This means that if we really love God we will not disobey Him. Therefore, if we do not disobey the Word of God, we have nothing to fear. We would not want to do anything that God does not want us to do, if we love God and desire to please Him. This does not mean that we have to be perfect, as we all fail God at times. It does mean, that because of our love for God, we will strive to obey Him perfectly. If we do not have a good relationship with Jesus, we will not have the strength to resist sin and the devil will get by with tormenting us. If we do not bring our guilt to Jesus, we then will suffer torment. When we have accepted Jesus as our savior, though we may fail God and sin, the Lord has provided a way for us to be forgiven, cleansed from our sin, and restored into a right relationship with Him.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
According to this definition in Proverbs, the Bible definition of "the fear of the Lord" is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way and a froward (crooked or perverse) mouth. If we have the "fear of the Lord" we will not only hate these things, we will resist them, and ask the Lord to deliver us from being guilty of these sins. When we tolerate evil in our lives and speak evil things, we are declaring that we have no fear of God. In fact, we have fallen into the sin of pride and arrogance, because we think that God is simply overlooking our sin and our wrong attitudes, just because we may appear to get by with some things at the present. God is a merciful God and He gives all of us time to repent, so that our own sins do not produce the effects of the sowing and reaping process.
Galatians 6:7-8: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
If we have the "fear of the Lord," we will turn from our sin and seek the Lord to help us overcome any weakness or evil thing that the devil wants us to indulge in. We will believe what the Bible tells us, and desire to walk in the truth. The Holy Spirit is present to help us overcome anything that the devil tries to bring to tempt and destroy us.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father in Heaven, I am thankful for Your love and patience toward me, to help me overcome the things in my life that are not pleasing to You.? I realize that I cannot do this without the help of the Holy Spirit.? I am calling on You to empower me to be that overcomer and help me to come to the place that I love You so much, that I will never want to hurt You by going my own way. I humbly ask You to remove all pride and rebellion from my heart.? Cleanse me, and may I always have the "fear of the Lord" in my heart.? I ask this in Jesus' name.? Amen.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 44 (KJV):
Proverbs 7:4-27(KJV): "Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death."
Thoughts for the Day
Proverbs records a blow by blow description of how a young man is seduced by a prostitute, with the warning to avoid her strategies. The first verse begins by telling every young man to make wisdom and understanding the women that he should pursue. Wisdom will make a wonderful "sister" and understanding a great "aunt" that will give the good advice that he needs. Their counsel will keep him from strange women, because they have true love and concern for him.
Verse 6 describes how the prostitute is of a different nature. She will watch out of her window for a young man that she thinks she can seduce. The ways of this seductress are also an analogy of how Satan attempts to lure the believer into his clutches. The devil may use sex and pleasure to tempt us, but he also has an arsenal of others things that he can use as well. He knows our weak areas and will try to exploit them. Just as this harlot has things that smell good, look good, taste good, and feel good; so the devil uses these same tactics. After dangling his bait before us, he may often say something like the harlot in verses 19-20. "Jesus is away on a long journey. You have plenty of time to indulge in sin with me before he comes back!"
Beware of the flattering words of the enemy. This portion of Scripture closes, reminding us that "Many strong men have been slain by her." In other words, we cannot count on our own strength to resist temptation. At some point we will fall, unless we humble ourselves and call on the mercy of God to help us in our hour of struggle. Without Jesus, death and hell await for all of us, just as the whore leads men to her house of death.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you for giving me the power to overcome the tricks of the devil so that I will not fall into his traps. ? Lord, I pray for all the young men that I know, that they might be kept from the ways of harlots. Lord, I also pray for those who are trapped in the bondage of prostitution.? Lord, l know that You love them and want to free them from their life of sin.? Help these women today, to cry unto You for deliverance. They can be made clean by Your blood.? Keep us all in Your hand and protect our children and grandchildren from the ways of the enemy.? I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Proverbs 7:4-27(KJV): "Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death."
Thoughts for the Day
Proverbs records a blow by blow description of how a young man is seduced by a prostitute, with the warning to avoid her strategies. The first verse begins by telling every young man to make wisdom and understanding the women that he should pursue. Wisdom will make a wonderful "sister" and understanding a great "aunt" that will give the good advice that he needs. Their counsel will keep him from strange women, because they have true love and concern for him.
Verse 6 describes how the prostitute is of a different nature. She will watch out of her window for a young man that she thinks she can seduce. The ways of this seductress are also an analogy of how Satan attempts to lure the believer into his clutches. The devil may use sex and pleasure to tempt us, but he also has an arsenal of others things that he can use as well. He knows our weak areas and will try to exploit them. Just as this harlot has things that smell good, look good, taste good, and feel good; so the devil uses these same tactics. After dangling his bait before us, he may often say something like the harlot in verses 19-20. "Jesus is away on a long journey. You have plenty of time to indulge in sin with me before he comes back!"
Beware of the flattering words of the enemy. This portion of Scripture closes, reminding us that "Many strong men have been slain by her." In other words, we cannot count on our own strength to resist temptation. At some point we will fall, unless we humble ourselves and call on the mercy of God to help us in our hour of struggle. Without Jesus, death and hell await for all of us, just as the whore leads men to her house of death.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you for giving me the power to overcome the tricks of the devil so that I will not fall into his traps. ? Lord, I pray for all the young men that I know, that they might be kept from the ways of harlots. Lord, I also pray for those who are trapped in the bondage of prostitution.? Lord, l know that You love them and want to free them from their life of sin.? Help these women today, to cry unto You for deliverance. They can be made clean by Your blood.? Keep us all in Your hand and protect our children and grandchildren from the ways of the enemy.? I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
P.S.
Being grateful of Jesus dying on the cross for me I came up with an assignment for myself and thought I might share it with you. Find 10 thing to thank God for today. Write a letter detailing the things you are thankful for and send it to 9 friends and 1 stranger in the mail. One thing that I ask that number 10 states, "I am thankful for you." This is not to get a blessing or something to tell you if you don't do it you will have bad luck. This is just a way for God to get the praise he deserves. This will also let you recognize the good things you have in your life. Then end the letter with God loves you. These three words can stop someone from giving up. Lets change the world one letter at a time.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 43 (KJV):
Proverbs 7:1-3(KJV): "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs continues with its theme of keeping the Word of God and obeying the commandments of the Lord. Verse 1 tells us that we can "store up" the Word of God for a day when we will need it. It tells us here to "lay up" His commandments. Just as squirrels lay up a store of nuts in the summer so that they will have food to get them through the winter, we need to "lay up" the Word of God for the winter seasons of our lives.
Jesus overcame the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness, by speaking the Word of God to him. If we do not know the Word of God, the devil can take advantage of us in a time of trouble and temptation. He can rob us of our rightful inheritance. In the New Testament, we find this scripture:
James 4:7: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
What makes the devil flee from us? When we speak the Word of God in faith against Satan's attacks, he will flee. Therefore, we must resist the devil by speaking the Word of God. We need to use the verses that pertain to the thing that the enemy is trying to do. If we do not know what God's Word says about our circumstances, then we can be defeated.
An example of this might be if the devil tempted us and we yielded to sin; however, we felt bad about it, and asked the Lord to forgive us for that sin. Later, someone we loved might need a prayer said for their healing. The devil certainly does not want us to pray for people to be healed, so he might begin a dialogue such as this: "You can not ask God to heal your loved one, as you have committed a terrible sin and God is punishing you for it by sending this sickness upon the one you love."
When we know the Word of God, we will recognize this as a lie. We will not hesitate to pray for our loved one to be healed, because the Lord desires all to be healed. In fact, in the New Testament the Bible said Jesus went about healing all that were sick.
Acts 10:38: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
We will also know, that if we have asked God to forgive us for our sins, that He will not only forgive us, but will answer our prayers that are prayed according to His will. We will know that it is not God punishing us, but rather the devil coming to rob, steal and kill, and we have authority over him in the name of Jesus.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We can see how important that it is to know the Word of God, and why Proverbs 7:2-3 tells us that they will cause us to live, if we keep them as the apple of our eye and write them on the tables of our heart. That means we should desire to know the Word of God with our whole heart. The people in those days recorded things differently than we do today. Writing on tables means to write on a tablet, which at that time could of been the face of a stone, or a board or something similar. The meaning is for us to engrave or memorize God's Word so we know it by heart. Bind them on thy fingers has the same kind of meaning. We must keep the Word of God close at hand, so we can read it and know it, and most of all, live it!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving me the Bible so I can understand Your ways. I also appreciate You giving me the understanding of the verses I read and study.? Help me to live my live in accordance with Your Word.? Please warn me Lord, when I am straying so that I can stay right on course with You.? Help me to be disciplined to read and study the Bible daily.? I need this discipline in my prayer life too.? Please guide me as I read and guide my prayers so that I might pray the things that are on Your heart.? I ask this in the name of Jesus.? Amen.
Proverbs 7:1-3(KJV): "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs continues with its theme of keeping the Word of God and obeying the commandments of the Lord. Verse 1 tells us that we can "store up" the Word of God for a day when we will need it. It tells us here to "lay up" His commandments. Just as squirrels lay up a store of nuts in the summer so that they will have food to get them through the winter, we need to "lay up" the Word of God for the winter seasons of our lives.
Jesus overcame the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness, by speaking the Word of God to him. If we do not know the Word of God, the devil can take advantage of us in a time of trouble and temptation. He can rob us of our rightful inheritance. In the New Testament, we find this scripture:
James 4:7: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
What makes the devil flee from us? When we speak the Word of God in faith against Satan's attacks, he will flee. Therefore, we must resist the devil by speaking the Word of God. We need to use the verses that pertain to the thing that the enemy is trying to do. If we do not know what God's Word says about our circumstances, then we can be defeated.
An example of this might be if the devil tempted us and we yielded to sin; however, we felt bad about it, and asked the Lord to forgive us for that sin. Later, someone we loved might need a prayer said for their healing. The devil certainly does not want us to pray for people to be healed, so he might begin a dialogue such as this: "You can not ask God to heal your loved one, as you have committed a terrible sin and God is punishing you for it by sending this sickness upon the one you love."
When we know the Word of God, we will recognize this as a lie. We will not hesitate to pray for our loved one to be healed, because the Lord desires all to be healed. In fact, in the New Testament the Bible said Jesus went about healing all that were sick.
Acts 10:38: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
We will also know, that if we have asked God to forgive us for our sins, that He will not only forgive us, but will answer our prayers that are prayed according to His will. We will know that it is not God punishing us, but rather the devil coming to rob, steal and kill, and we have authority over him in the name of Jesus.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We can see how important that it is to know the Word of God, and why Proverbs 7:2-3 tells us that they will cause us to live, if we keep them as the apple of our eye and write them on the tables of our heart. That means we should desire to know the Word of God with our whole heart. The people in those days recorded things differently than we do today. Writing on tables means to write on a tablet, which at that time could of been the face of a stone, or a board or something similar. The meaning is for us to engrave or memorize God's Word so we know it by heart. Bind them on thy fingers has the same kind of meaning. We must keep the Word of God close at hand, so we can read it and know it, and most of all, live it!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving me the Bible so I can understand Your ways. I also appreciate You giving me the understanding of the verses I read and study.? Help me to live my live in accordance with Your Word.? Please warn me Lord, when I am straying so that I can stay right on course with You.? Help me to be disciplined to read and study the Bible daily.? I need this discipline in my prayer life too.? Please guide me as I read and guide my prayers so that I might pray the things that are on Your heart.? I ask this in the name of Jesus.? Amen.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
P.S.
Really listen to the wordss of the song and knwo it is true, have a bless day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXlojIrNlvo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXlojIrNlvo
Word Of The Day (From Bibel.com)
Proverbs Day 42 (KJV):
Proverbs 6:30-35(KJV): "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in Proverbs contrast how men in general react to a thief and an adulterer when they are caught. Verse 30 begins by explaining when a thief steals because he is hungry, people tend not to judge them as harshly, as when they steal for other reasons. The thief will be judged, however, as no one likes his goods stolen. Verse 31 describes what the punishment for thievery should be. The thief should restore sevenfold what he stole, even if it means selling his own household goods or house to make it right. Restoration is God's plan for making up for the loss of what the thief took.
Verse 32 goes on to say although thievery is bad in the eyes of men, adultery is worse because it will destroy his own soul. Verse 33 says that when the adulterer is caught, he will not only be wounded in the process, but he will also be dishonored in the public eye. With this dishonor, comes reproach that will not be wiped out. This simply means people will never forget about the act of adultery and it will always be a part of a man's record in this life. We have witnessed this in our nation not only in the public arena with a president and other congressional leaders guilty of adultery, but many of our religious leaders have been caught in this act of unfaithfulness too. Their reproach has not been wiped away and is still with them today and it will be written down in the history books. If they repent, the Lord will forgive them, but the public in general is not that forgiving. Many people will never forget.
Some men, when they find out that some other man has had an affair with their wife, allow their rage and jealousy to make even worse attacks against the adulterer. Verses 34 and 35 say, that even when they are offered gifts or a settlement, it will not compensate for the damage that is done. Some angry husbands will not rest, nor be content with an apology, but are bent on destroying the guilty one. Many cases of murder have happened because of the sin of adultery. The Bible is very clear that if a young man wants an honorable life, he must resist this deadly sin of pursuing an affair with a married woman.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus' name and I ask that you forgive us as a nation for committing this terrible sin of adultery.? Lord, we are paying a dear price in our land for disobeying Your instructions in regard to the sanctity of marriage.? Lord, forgive us for the affairs, the lying, the cheating and the running around. All of these things have led to divorce and broken homes.? Our children are suffering for lack of both of their parents to guide them.? Lord, deliver us from lust and selfishness in this nation. Please have mercy on us and restore our families and keep our homes together.? Let us live for You, and not for ourselves and our own selfish desires. I pray for all the marriages that are under attack right now, and ask that You come in and heal these strained relationships. Amen.
Proverbs 6:30-35(KJV): "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in Proverbs contrast how men in general react to a thief and an adulterer when they are caught. Verse 30 begins by explaining when a thief steals because he is hungry, people tend not to judge them as harshly, as when they steal for other reasons. The thief will be judged, however, as no one likes his goods stolen. Verse 31 describes what the punishment for thievery should be. The thief should restore sevenfold what he stole, even if it means selling his own household goods or house to make it right. Restoration is God's plan for making up for the loss of what the thief took.
Verse 32 goes on to say although thievery is bad in the eyes of men, adultery is worse because it will destroy his own soul. Verse 33 says that when the adulterer is caught, he will not only be wounded in the process, but he will also be dishonored in the public eye. With this dishonor, comes reproach that will not be wiped out. This simply means people will never forget about the act of adultery and it will always be a part of a man's record in this life. We have witnessed this in our nation not only in the public arena with a president and other congressional leaders guilty of adultery, but many of our religious leaders have been caught in this act of unfaithfulness too. Their reproach has not been wiped away and is still with them today and it will be written down in the history books. If they repent, the Lord will forgive them, but the public in general is not that forgiving. Many people will never forget.
Some men, when they find out that some other man has had an affair with their wife, allow their rage and jealousy to make even worse attacks against the adulterer. Verses 34 and 35 say, that even when they are offered gifts or a settlement, it will not compensate for the damage that is done. Some angry husbands will not rest, nor be content with an apology, but are bent on destroying the guilty one. Many cases of murder have happened because of the sin of adultery. The Bible is very clear that if a young man wants an honorable life, he must resist this deadly sin of pursuing an affair with a married woman.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus' name and I ask that you forgive us as a nation for committing this terrible sin of adultery.? Lord, we are paying a dear price in our land for disobeying Your instructions in regard to the sanctity of marriage.? Lord, forgive us for the affairs, the lying, the cheating and the running around. All of these things have led to divorce and broken homes.? Our children are suffering for lack of both of their parents to guide them.? Lord, deliver us from lust and selfishness in this nation. Please have mercy on us and restore our families and keep our homes together.? Let us live for You, and not for ourselves and our own selfish desires. I pray for all the marriages that are under attack right now, and ask that You come in and heal these strained relationships. Amen.
Word Of The Day (From Bibel.com)
Proverbs Day 42 (KJV):
Proverbs 6:30-35(KJV): "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in Proverbs contrast how men in general react to a thief and an adulterer when they are caught. Verse 30 begins by explaining when a thief steals because he is hungry, people tend not to judge them as harshly, as when they steal for other reasons. The thief will be judged, however, as no one likes his goods stolen. Verse 31 describes what the punishment for thievery should be. The thief should restore sevenfold what he stole, even if it means selling his own household goods or house to make it right. Restoration is God's plan for making up for the loss of what the thief took.
Verse 32 goes on to say although thievery is bad in the eyes of men, adultery is worse because it will destroy his own soul. Verse 33 says that when the adulterer is caught, he will not only be wounded in the process, but he will also be dishonored in the public eye. With this dishonor, comes reproach that will not be wiped out. This simply means people will never forget about the act of adultery and it will always be a part of a man's record in this life. We have witnessed this in our nation not only in the public arena with a president and other congressional leaders guilty of adultery, but many of our religious leaders have been caught in this act of unfaithfulness too. Their reproach has not been wiped away and is still with them today and it will be written down in the history books. If they repent, the Lord will forgive them, but the public in general is not that forgiving. Many people will never forget.
Some men, when they find out that some other man has had an affair with their wife, allow their rage and jealousy to make even worse attacks against the adulterer. Verses 34 and 35 say, that even when they are offered gifts or a settlement, it will not compensate for the damage that is done. Some angry husbands will not rest, nor be content with an apology, but are bent on destroying the guilty one. Many cases of murder have happened because of the sin of adultery. The Bible is very clear that if a young man wants an honorable life, he must resist this deadly sin of pursuing an affair with a married woman.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus' name and I ask that you forgive us as a nation for committing this terrible sin of adultery.? Lord, we are paying a dear price in our land for disobeying Your instructions in regard to the sanctity of marriage.? Lord, forgive us for the affairs, the lying, the cheating and the running around. All of these things have led to divorce and broken homes.? Our children are suffering for lack of both of their parents to guide them.? Lord, deliver us from lust and selfishness in this nation. Please have mercy on us and restore our families and keep our homes together.? Let us live for You, and not for ourselves and our own selfish desires. I pray for all the marriages that are under attack right now, and ask that You come in and heal these strained relationships. Amen.
Proverbs 6:30-35(KJV): "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in Proverbs contrast how men in general react to a thief and an adulterer when they are caught. Verse 30 begins by explaining when a thief steals because he is hungry, people tend not to judge them as harshly, as when they steal for other reasons. The thief will be judged, however, as no one likes his goods stolen. Verse 31 describes what the punishment for thievery should be. The thief should restore sevenfold what he stole, even if it means selling his own household goods or house to make it right. Restoration is God's plan for making up for the loss of what the thief took.
Verse 32 goes on to say although thievery is bad in the eyes of men, adultery is worse because it will destroy his own soul. Verse 33 says that when the adulterer is caught, he will not only be wounded in the process, but he will also be dishonored in the public eye. With this dishonor, comes reproach that will not be wiped out. This simply means people will never forget about the act of adultery and it will always be a part of a man's record in this life. We have witnessed this in our nation not only in the public arena with a president and other congressional leaders guilty of adultery, but many of our religious leaders have been caught in this act of unfaithfulness too. Their reproach has not been wiped away and is still with them today and it will be written down in the history books. If they repent, the Lord will forgive them, but the public in general is not that forgiving. Many people will never forget.
Some men, when they find out that some other man has had an affair with their wife, allow their rage and jealousy to make even worse attacks against the adulterer. Verses 34 and 35 say, that even when they are offered gifts or a settlement, it will not compensate for the damage that is done. Some angry husbands will not rest, nor be content with an apology, but are bent on destroying the guilty one. Many cases of murder have happened because of the sin of adultery. The Bible is very clear that if a young man wants an honorable life, he must resist this deadly sin of pursuing an affair with a married woman.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus' name and I ask that you forgive us as a nation for committing this terrible sin of adultery.? Lord, we are paying a dear price in our land for disobeying Your instructions in regard to the sanctity of marriage.? Lord, forgive us for the affairs, the lying, the cheating and the running around. All of these things have led to divorce and broken homes.? Our children are suffering for lack of both of their parents to guide them.? Lord, deliver us from lust and selfishness in this nation. Please have mercy on us and restore our families and keep our homes together.? Let us live for You, and not for ourselves and our own selfish desires. I pray for all the marriages that are under attack right now, and ask that You come in and heal these strained relationships. Amen.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
P.S.
You should be so excited about what God is doing in your life. With so many not waking up this morning you definitely have some to praise about. Give him all the glory.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 41 (KJV):
Proverbs 6:23-29(KJV): "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in Proverbs give instructions to young men to avoid prostitutes. Verse 23 begins with the admonition to obey the commandments of the Lord and likens them to a lamp that brings light in a dark night. We know if we went out walking at night without a flashlight or street light, that very quickly, we would stumble and fall. No one can go very far without a light to guide them. Even sailors use the light of the stars to navigate on the seas. The Bible tells us that God's Words are the guiding light of our lives and that His reproofs and instructions are for our good. They will preserve our life if we heed them.
The next verses warn a man to stay away from the evil woman who is a whore. This scripture describes in detail how a man can be ensnared unless he flees this temptation. The first step the devil uses, is to get a man engaged in a conversation with a loose woman. She entices the man by flattery and provocative looks and alluring dress. The adulteress will stalk and try to snare the precious life of a man so that he is brought down to the worth of a piece of bread.
Verses 27 and 28 both ask a question about fire. If a man allows lust to burn in his heart and he yields to the temptation of a whore, he will be burned. If a man thinks he can just flirt with a prostitute, he will be fooled. It would be the same as if he took a flame to his chest, his clothes would catch on fire. A man cannot walk into a place where the temptation is great and expect to not have his feet burned. In the New Testament the Bible tells us what must be done. A man must flee from the enticement..
1 Corinthians 6:18-20: "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
A fornicator is defined in the New Testament as one who commits fornication, which is any kind of illicit sex. The Greek word for a man who indulges in fornication is "pornos." Obviously, this is also where the root word for pornography comes from. All who are being tempted with looking at pornography, must flee from it. Through the power of the Holy Spirit those who are ensnared in this deep pit can be free. God is a forgiving God and will deliver us from this evil. However, it is best if we take heed and never become ensnared in the first place.
This is also true with the sin of adultery as verse 29 warns. Fornication encompasses all kinds of sexual sins such as sex between single partners before marriage, homosexuality, affairs of the mind through pornography, etc. Adultery is defined as sexual sin committed outside of the marriage. When a man cohabits with his neighbor's wife or any other woman besides his own wife, the Bible says he is guilty of adultery. This sin can bring evil consequences to his life and many times a just retribution. Just having one's conscience trouble them is torture to the emotions. All of Proverbs warns men to keep themselves from this kind of sin. These verses of course can apply to women as well as men. Lustful men can lead innocent girls astray in the same way that a man can be led astray by the wrong kind of woman. Since Proverbs was written by Solomon he was addressing this message to his son, but it can be applied to all.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for addressing these issues in Your Word. We do not have to wonder what Your position is about the sexual issues in life. You have made it very clear.? Lord, help us, as parents and leaders, to address these issues also, so that our young people will not be influenced by the ungodly standards of our society. Father, set those free who are caught in the addiction of pornography and illicit affairs.? Have mercy on them and show them the way out. ? Lord, keep my mind and my heart pure in an age when so much sexual filth is everywhere. Protect my children and grandchildren also, from the evils of this day. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Proverbs 6:23-29(KJV): "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent."
Thoughts for the Day
These verses in Proverbs give instructions to young men to avoid prostitutes. Verse 23 begins with the admonition to obey the commandments of the Lord and likens them to a lamp that brings light in a dark night. We know if we went out walking at night without a flashlight or street light, that very quickly, we would stumble and fall. No one can go very far without a light to guide them. Even sailors use the light of the stars to navigate on the seas. The Bible tells us that God's Words are the guiding light of our lives and that His reproofs and instructions are for our good. They will preserve our life if we heed them.
The next verses warn a man to stay away from the evil woman who is a whore. This scripture describes in detail how a man can be ensnared unless he flees this temptation. The first step the devil uses, is to get a man engaged in a conversation with a loose woman. She entices the man by flattery and provocative looks and alluring dress. The adulteress will stalk and try to snare the precious life of a man so that he is brought down to the worth of a piece of bread.
Verses 27 and 28 both ask a question about fire. If a man allows lust to burn in his heart and he yields to the temptation of a whore, he will be burned. If a man thinks he can just flirt with a prostitute, he will be fooled. It would be the same as if he took a flame to his chest, his clothes would catch on fire. A man cannot walk into a place where the temptation is great and expect to not have his feet burned. In the New Testament the Bible tells us what must be done. A man must flee from the enticement..
1 Corinthians 6:18-20: "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
A fornicator is defined in the New Testament as one who commits fornication, which is any kind of illicit sex. The Greek word for a man who indulges in fornication is "pornos." Obviously, this is also where the root word for pornography comes from. All who are being tempted with looking at pornography, must flee from it. Through the power of the Holy Spirit those who are ensnared in this deep pit can be free. God is a forgiving God and will deliver us from this evil. However, it is best if we take heed and never become ensnared in the first place.
This is also true with the sin of adultery as verse 29 warns. Fornication encompasses all kinds of sexual sins such as sex between single partners before marriage, homosexuality, affairs of the mind through pornography, etc. Adultery is defined as sexual sin committed outside of the marriage. When a man cohabits with his neighbor's wife or any other woman besides his own wife, the Bible says he is guilty of adultery. This sin can bring evil consequences to his life and many times a just retribution. Just having one's conscience trouble them is torture to the emotions. All of Proverbs warns men to keep themselves from this kind of sin. These verses of course can apply to women as well as men. Lustful men can lead innocent girls astray in the same way that a man can be led astray by the wrong kind of woman. Since Proverbs was written by Solomon he was addressing this message to his son, but it can be applied to all.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for addressing these issues in Your Word. We do not have to wonder what Your position is about the sexual issues in life. You have made it very clear.? Lord, help us, as parents and leaders, to address these issues also, so that our young people will not be influenced by the ungodly standards of our society. Father, set those free who are caught in the addiction of pornography and illicit affairs.? Have mercy on them and show them the way out. ? Lord, keep my mind and my heart pure in an age when so much sexual filth is everywhere. Protect my children and grandchildren also, from the evils of this day. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, February 9, 2009
P.S.
If God closes a door don't get stressed over it. Don't try to open the door. Don't sit there just looking at the door thinking what should I do now. Walk away from the door. Allow God to lead your path. You will find a open door thats has a great opportunity inside. Trust God 100%, he knows what he is doing.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 40 (KJV):
Proverbs 6:20-22(KJV): "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."
Proverbs 6:20-22(Amplified): "My son, keep your father's (God given) commandment, and forsake not the law of (God) your mother (taught you).21 Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.22 When you go, (the Word of your parents' God) it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you, and when you waken, it shall talk with you."
Thoughts for the Day
Again and again in the book of Proverbs, young people are admonished to respect their parents' advice. These verses are telling sons and daughters to listen to their godly parents' words. Young people that are blessed to have Christian parents will be given advice that is based on the Word of God and that advice will never fail them if they adhere to it. The New Testament also has the same Word for children:
Ephesians 6:1-3: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Verse 21 mentions "bind them continually upon your heart." This is an admonition to not only listen to the Word of God spoken to us by our parents, but also to memorize scripture and meditate upon it in our hearts. Meditation requires one to ponder or think about the meaning of a particular scripture. The word "meditate" in Hebrew comes from the same root word that has the meaning of a cow chewing her cud. We know how the cow grazes on the grass, then later she will bring that grass up from her first stomach back to her mouth, where she will slowly chew on it a second time. In like manner, when we read or hear a Word from the Bible, it is good to look at it again, think about it, and think about how we could apply it to our lives.
What does "tie the Word about our necks" mean? If we tie a scarf or bandana about our neck, others certainly will notice it. It is not hidden. The Word of God should show in our lives and not be hidden. It should stand out, just as if something was tied around our neck. People should know that something is different about us. The Bible tells us, to let our light shine before men, not to hide it.
Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Verse 22 tells us that the Word of God spoken to us by our godly parents or elders will lead and guide us in the day and it will also keep us safe at night. We will not be sleeping in the wrong places, that would cause us to sin or go astray. In today's vernacular, "we will not be sleeping around." The Holy Spirit many times speaks His own Words to us, by bringing back the words that our parents or other godly people have spoken to us. This is one of the ways that He talks to us. Let us listen to what the Lord is speaking and obey Him so that we can walk in blessing and safety.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful that You speak to us in many different ways. Thank you for using our elders to speak to us. Help me not only to hear what You are saying, but to also obey what You are saying. Lord, help me to also spend more time studying and meditating on Your Words in the Bible. I know that as I do this, I will have the answers to my problems. I also thank you for encouraging me in Your Word. Lord, bless my family and friends today and may they hear a Word from You. Speak to all of us so that we might be led by the Spirit of God today.? I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Proverbs 6:20-22(KJV): "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."
Proverbs 6:20-22(Amplified): "My son, keep your father's (God given) commandment, and forsake not the law of (God) your mother (taught you).21 Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.22 When you go, (the Word of your parents' God) it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you, and when you waken, it shall talk with you."
Thoughts for the Day
Again and again in the book of Proverbs, young people are admonished to respect their parents' advice. These verses are telling sons and daughters to listen to their godly parents' words. Young people that are blessed to have Christian parents will be given advice that is based on the Word of God and that advice will never fail them if they adhere to it. The New Testament also has the same Word for children:
Ephesians 6:1-3: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Verse 21 mentions "bind them continually upon your heart." This is an admonition to not only listen to the Word of God spoken to us by our parents, but also to memorize scripture and meditate upon it in our hearts. Meditation requires one to ponder or think about the meaning of a particular scripture. The word "meditate" in Hebrew comes from the same root word that has the meaning of a cow chewing her cud. We know how the cow grazes on the grass, then later she will bring that grass up from her first stomach back to her mouth, where she will slowly chew on it a second time. In like manner, when we read or hear a Word from the Bible, it is good to look at it again, think about it, and think about how we could apply it to our lives.
What does "tie the Word about our necks" mean? If we tie a scarf or bandana about our neck, others certainly will notice it. It is not hidden. The Word of God should show in our lives and not be hidden. It should stand out, just as if something was tied around our neck. People should know that something is different about us. The Bible tells us, to let our light shine before men, not to hide it.
Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Verse 22 tells us that the Word of God spoken to us by our godly parents or elders will lead and guide us in the day and it will also keep us safe at night. We will not be sleeping in the wrong places, that would cause us to sin or go astray. In today's vernacular, "we will not be sleeping around." The Holy Spirit many times speaks His own Words to us, by bringing back the words that our parents or other godly people have spoken to us. This is one of the ways that He talks to us. Let us listen to what the Lord is speaking and obey Him so that we can walk in blessing and safety.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful that You speak to us in many different ways. Thank you for using our elders to speak to us. Help me not only to hear what You are saying, but to also obey what You are saying. Lord, help me to also spend more time studying and meditating on Your Words in the Bible. I know that as I do this, I will have the answers to my problems. I also thank you for encouraging me in Your Word. Lord, bless my family and friends today and may they hear a Word from You. Speak to all of us so that we might be led by the Spirit of God today.? I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Friday, February 6, 2009
P.S.
Jesus love you so much that he died for you now I am asking what are you going to do for him today. How about trying to be more patient. Or actually doing that assignment he told you to do a long time ago. Or maybe forgiving someone and showing them love despite of. These are little things compared to the price he paid.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 37 (KJV):
Proverbs 6:4-11(KJV): "Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man."
Thoughts for the Day
Today's message from Proverbs is a warning to those who would use excessive sleep as an escape from responsibility. Verse 9 addresses a person the Bible calls a sluggard. What does the word "sluggard" mean? It comes from the same root word that our word "sluggish" comes from. It has the meaning of one being slow or lazy; actually a habitually lazy person. In these verses there is a comparison made of those who sleep, because they dislike work, and those who are workers and provide for their house.
Verse 4 is not referring to those who get a good night's rest, but rather those who oversleep; thus becoming lazy. Verse 5 exhorts the one who is prone to becoming ensnared by this sin, to escape it. Escape it as a roe (deer) would run from a hunter who would shoot it, or as a bird that would escape a trap set for it. In other words, the person who does not work, but becomes lazy, will surely end up in a trap of the devil that will lead to their destruction.
Verse 6, 7 & 8 point us to look at the ant, one of God's hardest working creatures. We are told to be wise like the ants who have no boss (guide, overseer, or ruler) standing over them, but continue to work hard anyway. Some people only work when they have to. Ants gather food (meat) in the summer and their food in the harvest season, so that when winter arrives, they will have plenty to eat. Everyone of us experiences summer harvest times in our lives; so we should be diligent in those times, so that we may have plenty when our winters come. There is a saying that fits this warning perfectly. It is -- "Make hay while the sun shines."
Verse 11 says that indolence will lead to poverty. It will come like the birth of a baby when the mother begins to cry or travail. In other words, poverty brings pain. Anyone who lives in poverty knows the pain of hunger and the bondage of not being able to do the things they desire. This verse also says that the one who escapes in sleep will not be able to escape the robber who comes and causes them to lack or want for things.
Verses 9 would be the Lord asking those who are lazy, "How long will you sleep?" and "When are you going to get up and go to work?" In verse 10, we would hear the voice of the devil saying, "Just a little longer, just a little slumber, fold your hands and make a pillow and go to sleep."
Let us wake up and go to work. There are things we must do in our lives, things we need to do for our families, things waiting to be done for the Lord. We shall ask the Lord for His strength to do them all, just as Jesus declared He must do the work of His Father.
John 9:4: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father,? I thank you that you have given me a job to do. Forgive me if I complain at times, for all the work it involves. I am thankful that I can work, and that the devil does not have me in the trap of indolence. ? I do need Your strength today, to do all that You require of me.? Lord, I know people who are lazy and I lift them up in prayer today.? I do not know why they refuse to take their responsibilities, but I do know that my criticism of them will not help them.? Instead, Lord, I pray for them to overcome their irresponsibility. ? I pray that You will motivate and give them a reason to get up and go to work. ? Lord, lift the discouragement from them.? Give them a desire to pursue the right things in their lives.? Help us all to labor in the kingdom of God.? In Jesus' name I pray.? Amen.
Proverbs 6:4-11(KJV): "Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man."
Thoughts for the Day
Today's message from Proverbs is a warning to those who would use excessive sleep as an escape from responsibility. Verse 9 addresses a person the Bible calls a sluggard. What does the word "sluggard" mean? It comes from the same root word that our word "sluggish" comes from. It has the meaning of one being slow or lazy; actually a habitually lazy person. In these verses there is a comparison made of those who sleep, because they dislike work, and those who are workers and provide for their house.
Verse 4 is not referring to those who get a good night's rest, but rather those who oversleep; thus becoming lazy. Verse 5 exhorts the one who is prone to becoming ensnared by this sin, to escape it. Escape it as a roe (deer) would run from a hunter who would shoot it, or as a bird that would escape a trap set for it. In other words, the person who does not work, but becomes lazy, will surely end up in a trap of the devil that will lead to their destruction.
Verse 6, 7 & 8 point us to look at the ant, one of God's hardest working creatures. We are told to be wise like the ants who have no boss (guide, overseer, or ruler) standing over them, but continue to work hard anyway. Some people only work when they have to. Ants gather food (meat) in the summer and their food in the harvest season, so that when winter arrives, they will have plenty to eat. Everyone of us experiences summer harvest times in our lives; so we should be diligent in those times, so that we may have plenty when our winters come. There is a saying that fits this warning perfectly. It is -- "Make hay while the sun shines."
Verse 11 says that indolence will lead to poverty. It will come like the birth of a baby when the mother begins to cry or travail. In other words, poverty brings pain. Anyone who lives in poverty knows the pain of hunger and the bondage of not being able to do the things they desire. This verse also says that the one who escapes in sleep will not be able to escape the robber who comes and causes them to lack or want for things.
Verses 9 would be the Lord asking those who are lazy, "How long will you sleep?" and "When are you going to get up and go to work?" In verse 10, we would hear the voice of the devil saying, "Just a little longer, just a little slumber, fold your hands and make a pillow and go to sleep."
Let us wake up and go to work. There are things we must do in our lives, things we need to do for our families, things waiting to be done for the Lord. We shall ask the Lord for His strength to do them all, just as Jesus declared He must do the work of His Father.
John 9:4: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father,? I thank you that you have given me a job to do. Forgive me if I complain at times, for all the work it involves. I am thankful that I can work, and that the devil does not have me in the trap of indolence. ? I do need Your strength today, to do all that You require of me.? Lord, I know people who are lazy and I lift them up in prayer today.? I do not know why they refuse to take their responsibilities, but I do know that my criticism of them will not help them.? Instead, Lord, I pray for them to overcome their irresponsibility. ? I pray that You will motivate and give them a reason to get up and go to work. ? Lord, lift the discouragement from them.? Give them a desire to pursue the right things in their lives.? Help us all to labor in the kingdom of God.? In Jesus' name I pray.? Amen.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 36 (KJV):
Proverbs 6:1-3(KJV): "My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
Proverbs 6:1-3(Amplified): "My son, if you have become security for your neighbor, if you have given your pledge for a stranger or another, 2 You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught in the speech of your mouth. 3 Do this now (at once and earnestly), my son, and deliver yourself, when you have put yourself in to the power of your neighbor; go, bestir and humble yourself, and beg your neighbor (to pay his debt and release you).
Thoughts for the Day
Proverbs, the book of wisdom, gives us some financial advice in the area of relationships. In verse 1, the father advises his son not to become security for another. In our culture today, this would be advice not to co-sign a bank loan for another person. It would also mean not to guarantee someone else's loan. Many friendships have been destroyed because this advice was not taken. Although the borrower may have the best of intentions, sometimes they are unable to pay their note off.
Does this mean we are not to help people if they ask us for help? Certainly not! However, most loan requests are not emergency help loans, but are loans to help people live in a lifestyle greater than they can afford. These kinds of loans will inevitably become difficult to keep the payments up, and the one who has become security will be held accountable for the indebtedness. It is not kind to co-sign a note that will, in the end, not really be helpful to people who have not learned financial Biblical principals. Many people who go into debt for expenditures beyond their means, will, in time, leave the one who helped responsible for their debt.
We should always take every agreement that we sign very seriously. We are giving our word to do something and this is a serous thing before God and men. Verse 2 says that when we are security for someone, we must keep our promise because we have given our word and therefore, we are snared with our lips. We are bound to keep our word, even when it hurts. All of us have, at times, "sworn to our own hurt." Many times, when I told someone I would do something, I have wished that I had not done so, as I had to keep my word even when it was difficult to do so. God expects us, as His children, to keep our word just as He keeps His Word.
Psalm 15:4b: ".... but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not."
What if we are already in a situation where we have given our word or pledged security on someone's note? Verse 3 gives us some good advice. First, we should pray and humble ourselves before the Lord and confess the mistake we have made. Then we need to ask the Lord to make a way for us to get out of the situation in a way that it will not destroy our relationship with the one we have become security for. Then we should humble ourselves before the one we have co-signed the note for and ask them to seek a way so that we can be released from the financial bondage. We are responsible as long as the note is in force so this puts us under their power. None of us knows what the future holds; therefore, it is very unwise to be responsible for something that could fall back on us to pay. Of course, if you are very wealthy and it would not hurt you to repay the loan, you may want to help the person. You may even want to pay their debt for them and give them a fresh start. The bottom line is to always ask the Lord for His guidance and wisdom in these matters.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father,? I am thankful that You care about the practical matters in this life. Lord, I am asking for Your wisdom and guidance in our financial affairs, as well as all areas of our lives. Father, I ask You to be Lord over our finances.? I am asking that You help my husband and I to put all of our financial affairs in divine order.? I ask for a generous heart to give when You tell me to give, but I also ask for wisdom and grace to restrain from giving, when I should not give to certain individuals. You know my heart, please remove the wrong ideas I might have in the area of finances and let me have the mind of Christ in all of our financial dealings with others. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Proverbs 6:1-3(KJV): "My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
Proverbs 6:1-3(Amplified): "My son, if you have become security for your neighbor, if you have given your pledge for a stranger or another, 2 You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught in the speech of your mouth. 3 Do this now (at once and earnestly), my son, and deliver yourself, when you have put yourself in to the power of your neighbor; go, bestir and humble yourself, and beg your neighbor (to pay his debt and release you).
Thoughts for the Day
Proverbs, the book of wisdom, gives us some financial advice in the area of relationships. In verse 1, the father advises his son not to become security for another. In our culture today, this would be advice not to co-sign a bank loan for another person. It would also mean not to guarantee someone else's loan. Many friendships have been destroyed because this advice was not taken. Although the borrower may have the best of intentions, sometimes they are unable to pay their note off.
Does this mean we are not to help people if they ask us for help? Certainly not! However, most loan requests are not emergency help loans, but are loans to help people live in a lifestyle greater than they can afford. These kinds of loans will inevitably become difficult to keep the payments up, and the one who has become security will be held accountable for the indebtedness. It is not kind to co-sign a note that will, in the end, not really be helpful to people who have not learned financial Biblical principals. Many people who go into debt for expenditures beyond their means, will, in time, leave the one who helped responsible for their debt.
We should always take every agreement that we sign very seriously. We are giving our word to do something and this is a serous thing before God and men. Verse 2 says that when we are security for someone, we must keep our promise because we have given our word and therefore, we are snared with our lips. We are bound to keep our word, even when it hurts. All of us have, at times, "sworn to our own hurt." Many times, when I told someone I would do something, I have wished that I had not done so, as I had to keep my word even when it was difficult to do so. God expects us, as His children, to keep our word just as He keeps His Word.
Psalm 15:4b: ".... but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not."
What if we are already in a situation where we have given our word or pledged security on someone's note? Verse 3 gives us some good advice. First, we should pray and humble ourselves before the Lord and confess the mistake we have made. Then we need to ask the Lord to make a way for us to get out of the situation in a way that it will not destroy our relationship with the one we have become security for. Then we should humble ourselves before the one we have co-signed the note for and ask them to seek a way so that we can be released from the financial bondage. We are responsible as long as the note is in force so this puts us under their power. None of us knows what the future holds; therefore, it is very unwise to be responsible for something that could fall back on us to pay. Of course, if you are very wealthy and it would not hurt you to repay the loan, you may want to help the person. You may even want to pay their debt for them and give them a fresh start. The bottom line is to always ask the Lord for His guidance and wisdom in these matters.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father,? I am thankful that You care about the practical matters in this life. Lord, I am asking for Your wisdom and guidance in our financial affairs, as well as all areas of our lives. Father, I ask You to be Lord over our finances.? I am asking that You help my husband and I to put all of our financial affairs in divine order.? I ask for a generous heart to give when You tell me to give, but I also ask for wisdom and grace to restrain from giving, when I should not give to certain individuals. You know my heart, please remove the wrong ideas I might have in the area of finances and let me have the mind of Christ in all of our financial dealings with others. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
P.S.
Are you grateful for what God has already done for you. You need to start thanking and praising him right now. Show nhim the love that he shows you regardless. He is so deserving of your praise.
Word Of The Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 34 (KJV):
Proverbs 5:1-13(KJV): "My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!"
Thoughts for the Day
There is much wisdom in this passage from the book of Proverbs; especially for the age that we live, when there is so much emphasis on sex, which has led to so many acts of adultery and fornication. One of the miracles of the Bible is that it speaks to all generations and all people. Generations come and go, cultures are different, but the issues of mankind are the same; men throughout the ages have all faced the same problems. Sin in the heart of man has been our downfall from the time Adam and Eve committed the first sin. When I speak of men, I am referring to women as well -- all of mankind. Even though the above verses are addressed to a son by his father, the same warning is applicable to daughters who would look for a good time with lustful men.
Our news is filled with men who have experienced the progression of events that the above verses outline. Temptation lures people by the pleasure that it offers. However, just as verse 3 says, though the temptress has sweet kisses, there will be a bitter end to those moments of pleasure. Moses gave up the pleasures he could have had as the Prince of Egypt and chose rather to suffer with the people of God. He could do this because he had eternal vision and knew God would reward him later.
Hebrews 11:24-26: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."
The Bible tells us to flee from fornication. It warns young people not to get themselves into situations that would entice them to sin. It tells them to stay away from the wrong crowd. This advice is for older people as well. The devil is destroying many marriages because the above advise is not heeded. Many honorable men have lost their honor, and are in the news today, as their illicit affairs have been exposed. If they have forgiving mates, they may still have their marriages, but their names are forever blighted. Some, however, lose not only their families, but their position and finances as well. They end up sick and broke. Why? Because if they yield to their immoral appetites in one area, they will then sin in other areas, which then leads them in a downward spiral. Sin begats sin, and sin brings corruption and death to one's life.
Sin is progressive, just as on the positive side, righteousness is progressive. Each day, we will become more like our Lord by obeying His Words, or each day, we will become more wicked by giving into sin. Let us follow the advice of our godly teachers so that we may live a good life. God does not want us to end up with a wasted life, that we shall surely mourn about. We have a choice. The Bible asks us this question:
Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father, Thank you for your instructions in the Bible.? Give me the grace and humility to accept advice and correction, because I know when you instruct me, it is for my good.? Lord, I pray for all the families in our nation that have gone through divorce.? Lord, this has wounded our nation, because many of our children do not have their fathers; some do not have their mothers. ? Second marriages still carry wounds from the previous ones; Lord heal these marriages and homes.? Forgive the adultery and fornication that has led to many of these marriage breakdowns.?? Forgive our young people who are living together, as many of them do not even know it is wrong, because society has embraced this as acceptable behavior. Restore love in our families.? Heal our homes and our land. ? In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Proverbs 5:1-13(KJV): "My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!"
Thoughts for the Day
There is much wisdom in this passage from the book of Proverbs; especially for the age that we live, when there is so much emphasis on sex, which has led to so many acts of adultery and fornication. One of the miracles of the Bible is that it speaks to all generations and all people. Generations come and go, cultures are different, but the issues of mankind are the same; men throughout the ages have all faced the same problems. Sin in the heart of man has been our downfall from the time Adam and Eve committed the first sin. When I speak of men, I am referring to women as well -- all of mankind. Even though the above verses are addressed to a son by his father, the same warning is applicable to daughters who would look for a good time with lustful men.
Our news is filled with men who have experienced the progression of events that the above verses outline. Temptation lures people by the pleasure that it offers. However, just as verse 3 says, though the temptress has sweet kisses, there will be a bitter end to those moments of pleasure. Moses gave up the pleasures he could have had as the Prince of Egypt and chose rather to suffer with the people of God. He could do this because he had eternal vision and knew God would reward him later.
Hebrews 11:24-26: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."
The Bible tells us to flee from fornication. It warns young people not to get themselves into situations that would entice them to sin. It tells them to stay away from the wrong crowd. This advice is for older people as well. The devil is destroying many marriages because the above advise is not heeded. Many honorable men have lost their honor, and are in the news today, as their illicit affairs have been exposed. If they have forgiving mates, they may still have their marriages, but their names are forever blighted. Some, however, lose not only their families, but their position and finances as well. They end up sick and broke. Why? Because if they yield to their immoral appetites in one area, they will then sin in other areas, which then leads them in a downward spiral. Sin begats sin, and sin brings corruption and death to one's life.
Sin is progressive, just as on the positive side, righteousness is progressive. Each day, we will become more like our Lord by obeying His Words, or each day, we will become more wicked by giving into sin. Let us follow the advice of our godly teachers so that we may live a good life. God does not want us to end up with a wasted life, that we shall surely mourn about. We have a choice. The Bible asks us this question:
Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father, Thank you for your instructions in the Bible.? Give me the grace and humility to accept advice and correction, because I know when you instruct me, it is for my good.? Lord, I pray for all the families in our nation that have gone through divorce.? Lord, this has wounded our nation, because many of our children do not have their fathers; some do not have their mothers. ? Second marriages still carry wounds from the previous ones; Lord heal these marriages and homes.? Forgive the adultery and fornication that has led to many of these marriage breakdowns.?? Forgive our young people who are living together, as many of them do not even know it is wrong, because society has embraced this as acceptable behavior. Restore love in our families.? Heal our homes and our land. ? In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Word Of the Day (From Bible.com)
Proverbs Day 33 (KJV):
Proverbs 4:23-27(KJV): "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs is a great book to use to teach our children the wisdom that they will need to become overcomers in this life. These verses are exhortations so that we do not yield to the things that would cause us harm or destroy us. Verse 23 goes to the very heart of the issue that will determine our destinies. This verse states that the issues (or the things that flow out of us), come from our hearts. We are all born with wicked things in our hearts, because we have inherited the sin nature from our fathers all the way back to Adam, when he sinned originally by his disobedience. All mankind carries the blight of sin, until we repent and come to Jesus for a heart cleansing.
Matthew 15:8-11: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Two things we are commanded to do: (1.) We are to guard our hearts and be cautious what we embrace and take into our spirit (Verse 23).(2.) We are to be careful about what comes out of our heart through our lips (Proverbs 23:7b: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...").
These two things will determine what kind of life we will have on this earth. Verse 24 tells us to put away a froward (crooked) tongue and quit saying perverse things. This is referring to all kinds of evil talk---cursing, gossiping, criticizing, lying, condemning, etc. When we speak these things, we are actually speaking a curse on someone. This comes not only on the person we say evil things about, but we will receive it back on our own lives, because we reap what we sow. That is why the Bible tells us the tongue is like a fire and unless we allow Jesus to help us to tame it, we will not be able to control what comes out of our mouths.
James 3:6-10: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
Our mouth problem is actually a heart problem, so to correct it we must ask the Lord to help us and ask Him to cleanse our hearts of the things that are not like Him. Notice in Proverbs 4:23-27 that not only is the heart mentioned, but the mouth, eyes, feet and hands as well. This means, to live a life of righteousness, we must make a total commitment to serve God with all of our heart and our minds and every part of our bodies as well. When we do this, we will walk in the blessing and wisdom of God.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father, I realize that I have been guilty of not guarding what has gone into my heart. Forgive me Lord, for this sin. I have also been guilty of allowing the wrong things to come out of my mouth at times.? Also, please forgive me for the things that I have spoken that have come from a wrong heart attitude.? Lord Jesus, I would like to make the words of the Christian song, "Change My Heart, Oh God" to be my prayer today:
Change my heart, oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, oh God
May I be like you
You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray
Change my heart, oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, oh God
May I be like you
Proverbs 4:23-27(KJV): "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
Thoughts for the Day
The book of Proverbs is a great book to use to teach our children the wisdom that they will need to become overcomers in this life. These verses are exhortations so that we do not yield to the things that would cause us harm or destroy us. Verse 23 goes to the very heart of the issue that will determine our destinies. This verse states that the issues (or the things that flow out of us), come from our hearts. We are all born with wicked things in our hearts, because we have inherited the sin nature from our fathers all the way back to Adam, when he sinned originally by his disobedience. All mankind carries the blight of sin, until we repent and come to Jesus for a heart cleansing.
Matthew 15:8-11: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Two things we are commanded to do: (1.) We are to guard our hearts and be cautious what we embrace and take into our spirit (Verse 23).(2.) We are to be careful about what comes out of our heart through our lips (Proverbs 23:7b: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...").
These two things will determine what kind of life we will have on this earth. Verse 24 tells us to put away a froward (crooked) tongue and quit saying perverse things. This is referring to all kinds of evil talk---cursing, gossiping, criticizing, lying, condemning, etc. When we speak these things, we are actually speaking a curse on someone. This comes not only on the person we say evil things about, but we will receive it back on our own lives, because we reap what we sow. That is why the Bible tells us the tongue is like a fire and unless we allow Jesus to help us to tame it, we will not be able to control what comes out of our mouths.
James 3:6-10: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
Our mouth problem is actually a heart problem, so to correct it we must ask the Lord to help us and ask Him to cleanse our hearts of the things that are not like Him. Notice in Proverbs 4:23-27 that not only is the heart mentioned, but the mouth, eyes, feet and hands as well. This means, to live a life of righteousness, we must make a total commitment to serve God with all of our heart and our minds and every part of our bodies as well. When we do this, we will walk in the blessing and wisdom of God.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Father, I realize that I have been guilty of not guarding what has gone into my heart. Forgive me Lord, for this sin. I have also been guilty of allowing the wrong things to come out of my mouth at times.? Also, please forgive me for the things that I have spoken that have come from a wrong heart attitude.? Lord Jesus, I would like to make the words of the Christian song, "Change My Heart, Oh God" to be my prayer today:
Change my heart, oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, oh God
May I be like you
You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray
Change my heart, oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, oh God
May I be like you
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)